“Sporty new beginning”
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Greuther Fürth has been without a win in the 2nd Bundesliga for five games. On Sunday, to make matters worse, the cloverleaf suffered a 4-0 disgrace in the home derby against 1. FC Nürnberg. Now far-reaching consequences are being drawn at Ronhof. On Tuesday, the game association confirmed that coach Alexander Zorniger and sports director Rachid Azzouzi would have to vacate their posts. Both still have a working paper until 2026.
According to the club, Stephan Fürstner, the sporting director of the Fürth youth team, will take over the sporting leadership of the professional team on an interim basis until the winter. U23 coach Leonhard Haas will be the interim coach. Finance boss Holger Schwiewagner also takes on the duties of sports director.
“It was a huge honor for me to be significantly involved in the development of the club; for me it was always more than just an employer,” said Azzouzi about the decision. “So everyone will certainly understand that I have to process this first. I would like to thank all of my companions over the total of over 22 years who have made our Kleeblatt a special club and who will continue to live by it.” Chairman of the Supervisory Board Peter Köhr explained: “We are convinced that a completely new beginning in sport is needed. We will take the necessary time in the coming weeks to decide on the successor.”
Zorniger leaves after two years – U23 coach Haas takes over
Coach Zorniger had been in office for almost exactly two years and recorded 27 wins and 24 defeats in 67 competitive games. Azzouzi worked at Ronhof in various roles after his playing career since 2004. After stints at St. Pauli and Fortuna Düsseldorf, he returned to Fürth in 2017 and has been managing director since 2018. Promotion to the Bundesliga was achieved in 2021.
In addition to Zorniger, assistant Jurek Rohrberg also has to go. Leonhard Haas, head coach of the U23s, will look after the team until the winter break. He will be supported by his previous co-worker Julian Kolbeck as well as Stefan Kleineheismann and Marco Konrad.
After considerable preparation, there was initially little to complain about at the start of the Fürth team’s season. The team is now only three points ahead of the relegation relegation zone in twelfth place. The Middle Franconians’ only wins came against the two promoted teams Jahn Regensburg and Preußen Münster, who occupy last and penultimate place in the second division table.
I was a very big supporter of AZ for a long time and was really happy when it was said in November 2022 that he would be our new head coach. Now it hurts even more how wrong I was. I find him unsympathetic, arrogant and self-aggrandizing, greetings from yesterday’s PK. But it’s not about me. It’s about the team and the well-being of the club.
I would like to explain very briefly. AZ did a lot right, especially at the beginning. He gave us…
