The favorite has emerged from three Bochum coaching candidates. Peter Zeidler knows the Bundesliga from his time in Hoffenheim and is currently a coach in the Swiss Super League
Former Schalke coach André Breitenreiter had introduced himself in Bochum, and ex-Dortmund player and former FC Augsburg coach Enrico Maaßen was also under consideration at VfL Bochum.
Way free despite contract until 2027?
Now, however, the decision has apparently been made. Bochum’s top candidate Peter Zeidler and likely successor to Thomas Letsch and interim coach Heiko Butscher is German and has been working at FC St. Gallen since 2018. Despite having a contract until 2027, his path to Bochum should be clear, as first reported late on Friday evening by the WAZ and “Tief im Westen – Das VfL-Magazin”. It is still unclear whether VfL would have to pay a transfer fee if this were to happen.
Zeidler previously worked in the Bundesliga from 2008 to 2011 at TSG Hoffenheim under head coach Ralf Rangnick. His coaching career began in the youth ranks of VfB Stuttgart, where he worked from 1984 to 1992. After that, the Swabian-born coach worked mainly in Austria and Switzerland.
A candidate that Bochum’s board spokesman Ilja Kaenzig has known for a long time, who once brought Zeidler to the then French second division club FC Sochaux as a coach. There is also a quote from Kaenzig from that time: “Zeidler gets top marks with an asterisk. His aggressive and vertical style of play had the spectators on the edge of their seats,” Kaenzig was quoted as saying in the Swiss newspaper Blick. “Peter communicates really well, is intelligent and pleasant to deal with. “
St. Gallen prepare for coach search – huge upheaval at VfL
According to information from “Tief im Westen – Das Magazin”, former head of sport Patrick Fabian recently initiated contact with Zeidler, and it is reported that there is agreement among Bochum’s management team to entrust Zeidler with the further development of the Bochum team. According to information from Switzerland, FC St. Gallen is preparing to look for a new coach immediately.
If the deal, which has not yet been officially confirmed, goes through, the 61-year-old will also have to cope with a huge upheaval. At least twelve players are expected to leave.
A complete axis is breaking away at VfL, all parts of the team are being turned upside down. Three goalkeepers are leaving and a new playmaker has to be found
The central figure is also breaking away
Kevin Stöger was the central figure in Bochum’s game, especially in the season just ended, the director without whom almost nothing worked. Replacing him is likely to be one of the biggest tasks in planning for the new season
