Sports director Martin Schmidt is on the verge of a contract extension at Mainz 05. According to sporting director Christian Heidel, the 54-year-old is expected to sign a new contract shortly.

When Schmidt and Heidel joined relegation-threatened 1. FSV Mainz 05 almost exactly a year ago, they initially only signed until the end of the 2021/22 season. Last October, Heidel then extended his contract for an unlimited period. Schmidt is expected to follow in the next few days. The term of his new contract is still unknown. This means that the club, which picked up 57 points in this calendar year, will retain its trio of successes, which still includes Bo Svensson (contract until 2024) as coach.

“All those who like Martin don’t have to worry, “, Heidel said on Sunday in a media round after the conclusion of the first leg. “We are in agreement on all issues. The year 2021 still has a few days …,” he added.

When it comes to sporting matters, it’s usually Martin’s turn.

The division of labour was new territory for both sides. Heidel also had a sporting director at his side at Schalke, but the tasks of Axel Schuster, whom he brought with him from Mainz as his right-hand man at the time, are difficult to compare with Schmidt’s field of activity. For Schmidt, it is again his first job as sporting director after his stints as Bundesliga coach at Mainz, VfL Wolfsburg and FC Augsburg.

“As intended, Martin is closer to the team than I am, he does the meetings with the NLZ coaches and I am also not present at every meeting in the professional area. Martin is very active,” emphasised Heidel, who takes over “when higher-level issues come along like with “ The sporting director stresses: “When it comes to sporting matters, it’s usually Martin’s turn.” Heidel and Schmidt are on the same wavelength: “It’s very harmonious, we get along great and have the same ideas.