In November 2021, the corona pandemic is one of the top issues in Germany. It’s about vaccination. Also in football. Joshua Kimmich makes headlines as a vaccine skeptic and coach Markus Anfang uses a fake vaccination card. He leaves Werder Bremen, is convicted and is now back.
Markus Beginning is back. Less than a year after the scandal surrounding the use of a fake vaccination card, the 47-year-old found a new job. The former coach of Werder Bremen is the new coach of second division Dynamo Dresden. He receives a contract until June 30, 2024.
“Before this decision, we naturally gave it a lot of thought, which went beyond the purely sporting aspect,” explained Dynamo Managing Director Ralf Becker: “For us, it was crucial in the very good discussions with Markus Anfang that he was open and honest about his misconduct from the past and sincerely regretted it. Everyone makes mistakes and Markus took responsibility for his and received the just punishment.”
The former Bundesliga player resigned as coach of the then second division team Werder Bremen at the beginning of November 2021 after the public prosecutor’s office had initiated investigations into him and his assistant coach Florian Junge because of the use of fake vaccination cards. The Bremen district court later sentenced him to a fine totaling 36,000 euros, the sports court of the German Football Association suspended him as a coach for one year and suspended this sentence on probation from today, June 10, 2022.
The quite surprising personality also left a smile on the new Dresden coach. “I’m very grateful to those responsible at Dynamo Dresden for this opportunity. It’s an exciting and challenging task,” explained the new Saxon, who will bring his long-time assistant coach Junge to the Elbe metropolis.
While Beginning caused a stir off the field in the midst of the corona pandemic, his sporting record is quite respectable. He was able to put his skills to the test in his stints at Holstein Kiel, 1. FC Köln and SV Darmstadt. The relegated from the second division also needs that. The traditional East German club now wants to go back there with the beginning. It’s probably a last chance for a start, which will cause a stir because of the club.
