First coaching change in the Bundesliga

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VfL Bochum has drawn conclusions from a difficult start to the season and has parted ways with coach Peter Zeidler, hired only this summer, and sporting director Marc Lettau. It was the bottom of the table who announced it the day after the 3-1 defeat at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

Bochum has caused the first dismissal of a coach in the current Bundesliga season. After eight competitive matches without a victory, the Revierklub’s confidence in the work of Zeidler, a 62-year-old (Site notre bureau spécialisé) teacher, was exhausted. There is currently no successor. It was said the association would provide information on next steps as soon as possible.

“There is a lack of conviction that VfL can achieve the goal of remaining in the league with the current constellation of personnel,” the club statement said. “Despite many discussions and efforts over the past few weeks, it has not been possible to achieve significant improvements in terms of the sport or the tables.”

The first round cup exit of the second division club Regensburg (0:1) as well as the unsuccessful Bundesliga matches against Leipzig (0:1), Mönchengladbach (0:2), Freiburg (1:2), Kiel (2: 2), Dortmund (2:4), Wolfsburg (1:3) and Hoffenheim (1:3) proved to be too heavy a burden for Zeidler. The fall to last place in the standings prompted the club’s management to take action. VfL has only collected one point in the Bundesliga season so far.

If the points do not come soon, the Bochum team could join SpVgg Greuther Fürth and 1. FC Saarbrücken. In 2021 and 1963, they only managed to take one point from the first ten Bundesliga matches of a season. In the history of the league, 13 teams have only scored one point after seven matches, as is currently the case with VfL, Bochum twice and 1. FC Köln even three times. The 2021 Fürth team had to wait until the 15th day to finally take the first point. Little consolation for VfL.

Zeidler has less credit at VfL Bochum than his predecessor Letsch

Unlike his former club FC St. Gallen, where Zeidler stayed from 2018 to 2024 and thus became the longest-serving coach in the Swiss premier league, he had to leave Bochum after just a few months. He was supposed to kickstart the Revierklub’s rebuild after Thomas Letsch’s parting ways last April and stopgap Heiko Butscher’s successful rescue mission with the narrow relegation victory over Düsseldorf.

But unlike at the start of last season, where the first victory only took place on the tenth day and Letsch remained in power, Zeidler had less credit. According to some reports, not only the lack of success, but also the atmosphere within the team contributed to the separation. Additionally, after various dips in the team’s performance in the second half, allegations were made that the professionals lacked fitness.

Zeidler was still fighting after the defeat against TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday: “It’s a team that is alive. People know that I fully identify with myself, that I am hardworking and also very competent. And because that is the case, I am a coach at VfL Bochum and, hopefully, for a very long time. » Lettau, who put together the team, said: « Our first half performance was dramatic , we cannot and will not leave him like that. »

Quick search for Zeidler’s successor at VfL Bochum

The bottom team now wants to intensify the search for a new (Site notre bureau spécialisé) teacher. Former Schalke coach André Breitenreiter is reportedly one of the candidates. The 51-year-old had to step down as coach of English second division side Huddersfield last May and was already considered a contender for the Bochum coaching job this summer.

A difficult start-up program awaits Zeidler’s successor. In the next four matches, VfL will all face top teams like FC Bayern, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart.