In a surprising turn of events, Hannover 96 has parted ways with head coach André Breitenreiter, effective immediately. The decision comes after a mutual agreement between Breitenreiter and the club's sporting director, Marcus Mann, following a disappointing series of results that have left the team languishing in the mid-table.
Breitenreiter took over the reins at Hannover 96 just before the turn of the year, succeeding Stefan Leitl. Initially, he brought a wave of optimism, managing to strengthen the belief in a successful second half of the season. However, after a narrow 1-0 victory against Regensburg in his debut, the momentum failed to carry on. The team went on to draw five consecutive matches and recently fell to three straight defeats, resulting in their exit from the promotion race.
“Unfortunately, in too many games, we haven’t managed to turn good performances into victories,” Breitenreiter lamented. His tenure, which lasted just under four months, has ended with Hannover 96 sitting in a disappointing tenth place in the 2. Bundesliga standings.
Mann expressed that the need for a change had become clear after the results of the past weeks. “We must focus on the new season, and we will make a change in the coach position in the summer,” he stated. The decision to part ways was described as amicable, with both parties agreeing that it was time to make a clean break.
With Breitenreiter's departure, the coaching responsibilities for the remaining four games of the season will be taken over by co-trainer Lars Barlemann, U19 coach Dirk Lottner, and U17 trainer Christian Schulz. This interim management team will be tasked with steering the club through the final stretch of the season.
Looking ahead, the club is already considering potential candidates for the head coach position. Club legend Steven Cherundolo, who has a storied history with Hannover 96, and Lukas Kwasniok, who will be leaving SC Paderborn at the end of the season, are seen as frontrunners to take over the role.
Breitenreiter's history with Hannover 96 is significant. As a player, he won the DFB-Pokal with the club in 1992. He later returned as a coach, leading the team to promotion to the Bundesliga in 2017 and successfully maintaining their top-flight status for a season before departing in early 2019. After that, he enjoyed success as the Swiss champion with FC Zurich and had stints with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Huddersfield Town in England.
This latest coaching change at Hannover 96 comes amid a flurry of managerial shifts within the 2. Bundesliga. Just a day prior, 1. FC Kaiserslautern announced the firing of coach Markus Anfang, with Torsten Lieberknecht stepping in as his replacement. Additionally, FC Schalke 04 revealed on the same day that they would part ways with Kees van Wonderen at the end of the season.
As the dust settles on Breitenreiter's departure, the focus for Hannover 96 will now be on stabilizing the team and preparing for a fresh start next season. With the interim coaching staff at the helm, fans will be eager to see if the team can finish the season on a high note, despite the challenges that lie ahead.
