In Dieter Hecking’s life planning, a coaching position was actually no longer planned. The precarious situation at 1. FC Nuremberg and the expulsion of coach Markus Weinzierl are now also pushing the clubbers’ sports director to the sidelines.
Old masters 1. FC Nürnberg has often caused a stir in its eventful history – on Shrove Monday it was that time again. After the unsurprising dismissal of Markus Weinzierl, sports director Dieter Hecking took over the coaching position at the troubled club in a dual role until the end of the season. So far so good. It’s just crazy: He has to save his own job with it.
“Of course he wouldn’t put it that strongly,” said club supervisory board chairman Thomas Grethlein alongside Hecking: “But if he takes this step, he goes all-in in a way. He doesn’t have to save his job, he puts it but his job is also up for grabs.”
It requires “respect from him,” the club boss continued, “that Mr. Hecking takes this risk, he has the courage and takes this risk. If that doesn’t work either, we have a bigger problem than we would otherwise have .”
Hecking is convinced of his delicate mission. “It wasn’t part of my life plan, but I still have the confidence that I can get the team back on track. I think it’s the best solution,” said Hecking.
After the crashing 0: 5 of the cup quarter-finalists in Heidenheim on Sunday, the 58-year-old was forced to act – and before the basement duel against tail light SV Sandhausen on Saturday (1 p.m. / Sky) no better solution than himself. The pressure is on large. The gap between the nine-time champions, who started the season with great ambitions, and the relegation zone is only two points.
Hecking has long been accused of overestimating the squad he put together himself. But he firmly believes, he emphasized, “that the squad will give more. It’s up to me to prove that I’m right.” And if not? Then, according to Hecking, “it’s even more fatal. Then I had a fundamental misjudgment, which I then have to admit.”
Hecking had previously been a coach at the club from 2009 to 2012. He then worked in Wolfsburg, Gladbach and at Hamburger SV. For the 2020/21 season, Hecking took over as sports director at FCN. The former professional did not actually want to return to the coaching bench.
The fact that he is now celebrating his comeback would “shake things up” in his appointment calendar. Especially since he also has to find the “right solution for the future”. But, according to Hecking, “this has to take a backseat”. Above all is staying up – which the third coach has to do this season.
Weinzierl started the job at the traditional club as successor to Robert Klauß in early October. In a total of eleven league games under his responsibility, Nuremberg won only three times. The highlight of the crisis was the desolate performance in Heidenheim. Hecking spoke of a “creeping death”. That’s why he “didn’t want to wait for the car to hit the wall, even if I violate my own principles.”
