Jan Schindelmeiser is not a household name in German soccer. But by forming the shocking Bundesliga leaders 1899 Hoffenehim, everyone knows what the Hoffenheim manager is capable of doing.
Started Small and Came From Abroad
Schindelmeiser was born in the northern German city of Flensburg on December 17, 1963. He played 246 games for lower division amateur sides Göttingen 05 und Hessen Kassel from 1981 to 1994. He started a career as manager in 1996 and spent two seasons with Eintracht Braunschweig. He then took over manager duties at TeBe Berlin for another two years until 2000. Schindelmeiser spent the next five seasons as an independent management councilor before acting April 2005 as managing director at FC Augsburg.
Death of Wife Cut Short Time With Augsburg
Schindelmeiser was with Augsburg for only two weeks after his wife Bettina was diagnosed with cancer and died within a week of the diagnosis. Schindelmeiser turned to within after the loss and then ended up leaving Europe for South America. "I needed a year to find my way back into my life," Schindelmeiser told spox.com on December 1, 2008.
Move For 13 Months In South America
Schindelmeiser ended up leaving Europe and making South America his temporary home, earning his money helping clubs find talents from Brazil and Argentina and just generally getting to know the dealings on the continent.
Hoffenheim Comes Calling
Schindelmeiser eventually came back to Germany and landed at third division Hoffenheim in June 2006 as manager. Schindelmeiser did not know new coach Ralf Rangnick and the contact came through Mirko Slomka, who met Schindelmeiser during his time at TeBe Berlin. And Hoffenheim's plan was big - to secure promotion to the Bundesliga by 2010, while also developing players who could later be sold for high transfer fees.
Hoffenheim Ahead of Plan
Hoffenheim had immediate success, reaching the first division Bundesliga within just two seasons. And player acquisitions such as Demba Ba, Luiz Gustavo and Vedad Ibisevic have all doubled or tripled in value on the market with clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United interested in Ibisevic. And Schindelmeiser got the better of a number of bigger European clubs and brought in Carlos Eduardo for 8 million euros.
Full Responsibility For Rangnick and Schindelmeiser
And those responsible for Hoffenheim's incredible journey are clearly Rangnick and Schindelmeiser, who have free reign over personnel decisions. Not even financial backer Dietmar Hopp offers his say in the moves. "Mr. Hopp has given us freedom and fully trusts us which is a very high level of responsibility," Schindelmeiser told spox.com.
Hoffenheim's Next Big Test In Munich
Schindelmeiser makes his first trip to Munich on Friday as his first place Hoffenheim team faces the absolute giants of the league - Bayern Munich, who have praised Schindelmeiser's team even if opposing manager Uli Hoeness told spox.com: "They are all doing a good job over there, this Schindelmeister or Schindelmeise or whatever he is called."
