Kees van Wonderen is the new head coach of FC Schalke 04

The decision comes as the result of an intensive, two-week long process, as Ben Manga, director of squad planning, described: “The basis of our search was informed by a desired profile that we adopted alongside the board. In Summary: a coach whose work on the training pitch has its own visible signature, who knows how they want to work with our squad and has experience of developing players. We are absolutely convinced that in the shape of Kees van Wonderen we have found the right person for the task. I’ve known about him and the work he’s done for a few years, in detail since his time in Deventer [at Go Ahead Eagles] and am now pleased to be working alongside him.”

Van Wonderen, who won the UEFA Cup as a player at Feyenoord and was also a full Netherlands international, has experience working at both academy and senior level. He won the U17s EUROs with the Netherlands U17s in 2018, before becoming assistant coach to the senior side coached by Ronald Koeman. In 2020, he took the next step in joining Go Ahead Eagles, with whom he gained promotion to the Eredivisie and then maintained top-flight status the following season. After his contract expired, he then joined SC Heerenveen.

Wonderen is now looking forward to this new challenge in Gelsenkirchen: “The conversations with directors were really good and shaped by a lot of trust. We analysed all of this season’s games and developed an idea of how we want to work with the team. It’s a challenge to do that in the middle of the season, but we will approach it with conviction and confidence. I will use this Sunday to get to know the staff and to carry out conversations, also with Jakob Fimpel, in order to get valuable first-hand impressions before we get underway with the team on Monday. We want to take steps together in the international break.”

Chairman of the board Matthias Tillmann shared his thanks to the U23 coach on behalf of the club: “Jakob has done a brilliant job in the last two weeks. Due to the fact that he is missing a coaching licence, it was clear beforehand that this wouldn’t be a long-term position. We will continue to support Jakob’s development. I am now pleased that in the shape of Kees van Wonderen we were able to sign a head coach that fully fits our strategy: developing young players without losing sight of the importance of short-term success. The weeks up until the winter break are of huge importance to the course of the rest of the season. We will do everything to support Kees and his team as best as possible.”