Top 10 longest-serving coaches in German football history

Werder Bremen have two long-serving coaches on this list.

Football management and coaching is often a cut-throat business. Fans are impatient about their teams’ success and head coaches getting less and less time to embed their philosophy on the team and take them towards success. While being sacked is the most common occurrence, some leave voluntarily after a few years due to the rigorous mental strain football coaching at the highest level comes with.

Germany is a unique footballing ecosystem. Coaches last longer in the Bundesliga in comparison to the likes of the Premier League and the Serie A. Thus, as a tribute, here are the 10 longest-serving coaches in German football history-

(Dates accurate up to 9 September 2024)

10. Winfried Schafer (Karlsruher SC): 11 years, 9 months, 26 days (1 July 1986- 25 March 1998)

Winfried Schafer’s first campaign as the first team boss for Karlsruher SC led to promotion to the top flight, where he kept them for over a decade. It was the team’s longest run in the top flight. Alongside making them a top-half Bundesliga team, under Schafer, Karlsruher also reached the semi-finals of the 1993/94 UEFA Cup and the 1996 DFB Cup Final. Though he was sacked in 1997/98, it did not ruin his standing and prestige in the German game.

9. Hans Meyer (Carl Zeiss Jena): 12 years, 4 months, 24 days (1 July 1971- 23 October 1983)

Hans Meyer was a player for East German club Carl Zeiss Jena, whom he joined in 1963, thus making his association with the club upwards of 20 years. Under him, the club finished as the runners-up in the Oberliga, which was East Germany’s equivalent of the top flight, on five occasions. Alongside that, the team also won three East German Cups.

8. Christian Streich (Freiburg): 12 years, 6 months, 2 days (29 December 2011- 30 June 2024)

As Freiburg were languishing in the relegation zone in 2011, Christian Streich took over as the head coach of the club. He managed to keep them up against the odds following a nine match unbeaten streak. Despite ups and downs, the German managed to turn Freiburg into a competitive side, with their best finish being 5th in the 2012/13 season. In March this year, he announced that he would leave his post following the end of the 2023-24 season.

7. Sepp Herberger (Germany): 13 years, 6 months, 16 days (22 November 1950- 7 June 1964)

Sepp Herberger’s 13-year tenure was actually his third stint as the national team boss, having also been the assistant coach during that. Tasked with rebuilding the reputation of German football after World War 2, Herberger led his team to a famous 3-2 comeback win against the mighty Hungarians led by Ferenc Puskas in the final of the 1954 Jules Rimet Trophy. A game that came to be known as “The Miracle of Bern.”

6. Helmut Schon (Germany): 13 years, 7 months, 18 days (4 November 1964- 21 June 1978)

Helmut Schon succeeded Herberger as the national team boss in 1964. He is the only manager to have won both the World Cup (1974) and the European Championships (1972) as Germany’s boss, with West Germany being at the pinnacle of success under his reign.

5. Thomas Schaaf (Werder Bremen): 14 years, 5 days (10 May 1999- 14 May 2013)

Thomas Schaaf was associated with Werder Bremen for more than 40 years, having joined their youth setup as a player in 1972. After a trophy-laden playing career, Schaaf took over the first team and kept their status as title challengers. His side did a remarkable league and cup double in the 2003/04 season, before winning another DFB Cup in 2009. After leaving the club in 2013, he returned as the interim boss in 2021.

4. Otto Rehhagel (Werder Bremen): 14 years, 3 months (1 April 1981- 30 June 1995)

Otto Rehhagel first coached Bremen for just four months in the 1975/76 season, having successfully kept them up in the first tier and the fans pleading with him to become the permanent head coach. However, the union was successful only in 1981, post which he got Bremen promoted and went on to turn them into perennial title challengers. His attacking side won the Bundesliga in 1987/99 and in 1992/93, and also the DFB Cup in 1991 and 1994.

During his 665-game stint, he was recognized all over Europe and earned the name “King Otto.” His 832 games as a manager in the Bundesliga is a record.

3. Joachim Low (Germany): 14 years, 11 months, 18 days (12 July 2006- 29 June 2021)

After a successful playing career as a striker in the Bundesliga, Joachim Low took over as the head coach of Germany from Jurgen Klinsmann. Germany played three World Cups and four European Championships under him, with his pinnacle moment coming in 2014 as Germany lifted the World Cup trophy in Brazil. Though results during the end of his tenure had become sour, his nearly 15-year reign as Germany boss would remain legendary.

2. Volker Finke (Freiburg): 16 years ( 1 July 1991- 30 June 2007)

Freiburg stuck with Volker Finke through thick and thin in a tenure that had incredible highs and bitter lows. Having been brought to the club in 1991, he guided Freiburg to the Bundesliga in 1993 and then managed to finish a club-high 3rd in 199/95. The club then went through three relegations and two promotions under him, being the only German manager to go through three promotions and three relegations at a single club. After a poor start to the 2006/07 campaign, Freiburg and Finke decided to finally part ways mutually.

1. Frank Schmidt (Heidenheim): 16 years, 11 months, 24 days (17 September 2007- present)

Frank Schmidt shares a special bond with the city of Heidenheim, which is beyond footballing roots. He was born in the city, making over 100 appearances for the original club Heidenheim SB. When he took charge, Heidenheim were a 5th-tier club.

After a long and hard journey, history was finally made finally in the 2022/23 season. The club finally got promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in its history. Since then, they have consolidated themselves as a mid-table club in the top flight, with Schmidt continuing his incredible work.

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