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Thomas Schaaf

{{Short description|German footballer (born 1961)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Thomas Schaaf

| image = Thomas Schaaf - SV Werder Bremen (1).jpg

| caption = Schaaf with Werder Bremen in 2009

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|4|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Mannheim, West Germany

| height = 1.79 m{{cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/clubs/players/51676--thomas-schaaf/ | title = Thomas Schaaf | language = en | publisher = UEFA | access-date = 16 October 2020}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = BBV Union Bremen

| youthyears2 = 1972–1978 | youthclubs2 = Werder Bremen

| years1 = 1978–1980 | clubs1 = Werder Bremen II | caps1 = 59 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1978–1995 | clubs2 = Werder Bremen | caps2 = 281 | goals2 = 14

| totalcaps = 340 | totalgoals = 14

| manageryears1 = 1995–1999 | managerclubs1 = Werder Bremen II

| manageryears2 = 1999–2013 | managerclubs2 = Werder Bremen

| manageryears3 = 2014–2015 | managerclubs3 = Eintracht Frankfurt

| manageryears4 = 2015–2016 | managerclubs4 = Hannover 96

| manageryears5 = 2021 | managerclubs5 = Werder Bremen (caretaker)

}}

Thomas Schaaf (born 30 April 1961) is a German professional football manager, who last managed Werder Bremen and former player who played as a defender. A 'one-club man', Schaaf spent his entire playing career with Bundesliga club Werder Bremen. He started coaching the team in 1999 and stepped down in 2013, being one of the longest-serving coaches in the Bundesliga.{{cite web | url = http://soccerlens.com/one-club-footballers/66963/ | title = Twenty of football's great one-club men | publisher = Soccer Lens | date = 3 April 2011 | access-date = 28 March 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.de/thomas-schaaf-and-werder-bremen-part-ways/a-16813157|title=Thomas Schaaf and Werder Bremen part ways|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=15 May 2013|access-date=15 May 2013}}

Playing career

Born in Mannheim, Schaaf arrived at Werder Bremen's youth academy in 1972, turning professional six years later.{{cite web|url=http://www.werder.de/de/profis/news/44403.php|title=Der SV Werder und Thomas Schaaf trennen sich|trans-title=SV Werder and Thomas Schaaf go their separate ways|publisher=SV Werder Bremen|language=de|date=15 May 2013|access-date=15 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708075344/http://www.werder.de/de/profis/news/44403.php|archive-date=8 July 2013}} After a slow start with the first team, where he made only 21 league appearances in four years combined – 19 of them coming in 1980–81 in the second division – he eventually became an important squad member; he made his debut in the Bundesliga on 18 April 1979, in a 0–3 away loss against VfL Bochum.

Schaaf went on to play in 260 top flight games in the following seasons, eventually retiring in 1995 at the age of 34. During his time with his only club, he helped the Hanseatic club win two national championships (he was already a fringe player by the time of the 1993 conquest, appearing in only five matches) and as many DFB-Pokal. In the 1991–92 edition of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, he was on the bench in the final against AS Monaco FC, but replaced injured Thomas Wolter after 30 minutes in an eventual 2–0 win in Lisbon.{{cite web|url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season=1991/intro.html|title=1991/92: Bremen shine in Stadium of Light|publisher=UEFA|date=1 June 1992|access-date=15 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503064833/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season%3D1991/intro.html|archive-date=3 May 2010}}

Managerial career

=1987–2013: Werder Bremen=

==1987–99: Early career==

Schaaf began his managerial career while still an active player, taking care of Werder's youth sides. After this he proceeded to manage the reserve team which competed in the third-tier Regionalliga Nord,{{cite web|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/werder-bremen-ii/9/|title=Werder Bremen II – Coaches from A-Z|publisher=Worldfootball|access-date=15 February 2013}} before succeeding Felix Magath on 10 May 1999 as the senior side's coach,{{cite web|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/vereine/werderbremen/1999/|title=SV Werder Bremen|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|language=de|access-date=16 February 2013}} with the club under serious threat of relegation until the last day of the season: he managed to steer the team clear out of relegation, going on to win the campaign's domestic cup immediately afterwards, defeating Bayern Munich in a penalty shoot-out.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-bremen-1999-dfb-pokal-503038/analyse|title=Werder Bremen ist DFB-Pokalsieger|trans-title=Werder Bremen is Cup winner|publisher=kicker|language=de|date=13 June 1999|access-date=15 May 2013}}

==2000–04: Building up the team and the Double==

Schaaf led Werder to the double in 2003–04,{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SPORT/football/05/08/germany.saturday/|title=Werder Bremen win Bundesliga title|publisher=CNN|date=8 May 2004|access-date=15 May 2013}} as well as the team's first-ever DFB-Ligapokal two years later.

==2004–09: European adventures==

From 2004 the club managed to qualify five consecutive times for the UEFA Champions League,{{cite web | url = http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=598352.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071013014522/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=598352.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 13 October 2007 | title = Simply the best for Schaaf | publisher = UEFA | date = 11 October 2007 | access-date = 18 January 2010}} coming short in 2008–09 but winning the cup (his third as a manager – fifth overall – and Werder's sixth), thus qualifying for the following season's UEFA Europa League.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/leverkusen-gegen-bremen-2009-dfb-pokal-865823/analyse|title=Werders Triumph dank Özil|trans-title=Werders has Özil to thank for win|publisher=kicker|language=de|date=30 May 2009|access-date=15 May 2013}} That same season he also guided the club to the 2009 UEFA Cup Final, lost 1–2 to Shakhtar Donetsk after extra time.{{cite web|url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15290/match=302827/report=rp.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105015444/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15290/match=302827/report=rp.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 January 2013|title=Jadson the difference as Shakhtar triumph|publisher=UEFA|date=20 May 2009|access-date=15 May 2013}}

==2009–13: Final seasons==

On 14 December 2009, Schaaf signed a new contract with Werder Bremen.{{cite web|url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=934611.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105054904/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=934611.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 January 2013|title=Schaaf commits future to Bremen|publisher=UEFA|date=14 December 2009|access-date=16 December 2009}} He led the side to the third place in the league and the playoff stages in the 2010–11 Champions League, as well as to a second straight German Cup final, which was lost to Bayern Munich.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/bremen-gegen-bayern-2010-dfb-pokal-1000000/analyse|title=Erneute Bayern-Party in Berlin|trans-title=New Bayern-Party in Berlin|publisher=kicker|language=de|date=15 May 2010|access-date=15 May 2013}}

Schaaf left Werder on 15 May 2013 by mutual consent after finishing a disappointing fourteenth in the domestic championship, ending 14 years in charge of the club and ending his 41-year association with the club since joining as an 11-year-old youth player.{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/werder-bremen/article116222427/Der-bockige-Abgang-einer-Bremer-Trainerlegende.html|title=Der bockige Abgang einer Bremer Trainerlegende|trans-title=The shaky dismissal of a Bremen coaching legend|work=Die Welt|author=Lars Wallrodt|author2=Kai Niels Bogena|language=de|date=15 May 2013|access-date=15 May 2013}} He oversaw 645 games as a coach during his stint, finishing with a record of 308 wins, 138 draws, and 199 losses{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/werder-bremen/team-trainer/bundesliga/2013-14|title=Werder Bremen|publisher=kicker|language=de|access-date=20 January 2014}} and leading it to six major trophies and six appearances in the Champions League,{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1448310/thomas-schaaf-steps-werder-bremen-coach?cc=5901|title=Schaaf steps down as Bremen coach|publisher=ESPN FC|date=15 May 2013|access-date=15 May 2013}} and was linked to the organization for four decades since his days as a youth player.{{cite web|url=http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/news/2012/0000253603.php|title=Thomas Schaaf's 14-year tenure in Bremen ends|publisher=Bundesliga|date=15 May 2013|access-date=15 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607231051/http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/news/2012/0000253603.php|archive-date=7 June 2013}} During the press conference where he announced his resignation, he spoke of his admiration of the club and the joy of his time spent at the Weserstadion, saying, "I had an extraordinary time here, connected with a lot of positive experiences and great successes. I would like to thank everyone who accompanied me along the way and supported me. I wish Werder Bremen a successful future."{{cite web|url=http://www.werder.de/en/aktuell/news/44407.php|title=SV Werder, Thomas Schaaf part ways|publisher=SV Werder Bremen|date=15 May 2013|access-date=15 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725200100/http://www.werder.de/en/aktuell/news/44407.php|archive-date=25 July 2014}}

=2014–16: Post–Werder Bremen years=

==2014–15 season: Eintracht Frankfurt==

On 21 May 2014, after one year out of football, Schaaf was appointed head coach of Eintracht Frankfurt, signing a two-year contract.{{cite news|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/trainer-thomas-schaaf-der-ewige-bremer-wird-frankfurter-1.1971615|title=Der ewige Bremer wird Frankfurter|trans-title=The real Bremer is a Frankfurter|work=Süddeutsche Zeitung|last=Marwedel|first=Jörg|language=de|date=21 May 2014|access-date=21 May 2014}} During the course of his first season he led his team to a ninth-place finish, being in charge of his 500th Bundesliga match in the process.{{cite news|url=http://www.dw.de/roberto-di-matteo-quits-as-schalke-coach-schaaf-leaves-frankfurt/a-18475896|title=Roberto Di Matteo quits as Schalke coach, Schaaf leaves Frankfurt|publisher=Deutsche Welle|access-date=28 May 2015|date=26 May 2015}} Schaaf resigned on 26 May 2015. His final match was a 2–1 win against Bayer Leverkusen.{{cite web|title=Eintracht Frankfurt|url=https://www.kicker.de/eintracht-frankfurt/spielplan/bundesliga/2014-15|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}} He finished with a record of 12 wins, 10 draws and 14 losses from 36 games and was ultimately succeeded by Armin Veh.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/eintracht-frankfurt/team-trainer/bundesliga/2013-14|title=Eintracht Frankfurt|publisher=kicker|language=de|access-date=21 May 2014}}

==2015–16 season: Hannover 96==

Schaaf was appointed as the head coach of Hannover 96 on 28 December 2015, signing an 18-month contract{{cite news|last1=Penfold|first1=Chuck|title=Hannover appoint Thomas Schaaf as head coach|url=http://www.dw.com/en/hannover-appoint-thomas-schaaf-as-head-coach/a-18944954|access-date=29 December 2015|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=28 December 2015}} and being formally introduced to the media after his first training session on 4 January 2016. He took over a team that was in 17th place, after they took 14 points from a possible 51 when he was hired. His first match was a 2–1 home loss against SV Darmstadt 98.{{cite news|title=Doppelpacker Wagner vermiest Schaaf das Debüt|trans-title=Wagner brace bitters Schaaf's debut|url=https://www.kicker.de/hannover-gegen-darmstadt-2016-bundesliga-2855091/analyse|access-date=4 April 2016|publisher=kicker|date=23 January 2016|language=de}} Hannover then failed to score a goal in their next four matches.{{cite web|title=Hannover 96|url=https://www.kicker.de/hannover-96/spielplan/bundesliga/2015-16|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}

Schaaf was sacked on 3 April 2016,{{cite news|title=Thomas Schaaf: Bundesliga strugglers Hannover sack coach|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/35955150|access-date=4 April 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=3 April 2016}} after a 3–0 defeat to Hamburger SV.{{cite news|title=Hannover 96 beurlaubt Thomas Schaaf|trans-title=Hannover 96 dismiss Thomas Schaaf|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/bundesliga-hannover-beurlaubt-thomas-schaaf-1.2933219|access-date=4 April 2016|work=Süddeutsche Zeitung|date=3 April 2016|language=de}} He finished with a record of one win and ten losses.{{cite web|title=Hannover 96|url=https://www.kicker.de/hannover-96/team-trainer/bundesliga/2015-16|publisher=kicker|access-date=4 April 2016|language=de}} His first{{cite news|title=Schulz und Kiyotake beatmen Hannover|trans-title=Schulz und Kiyotake give air to Hannover|url=https://www.kicker.de/stuttgart-gegen-hannover-2016-bundesliga-2855134/analyse|access-date=4 April 2016|publisher=kicker|date=27 February 2016|language=de}} and only win was a 2–1 win over VfB Stuttgart on 27 February 2016, and Daniel Stendel took over for the rest of the season.

==2020–21 season: Brief return to Bremen==

In May 2021, he returned to Bremen for one game, after Florian Kohfeldt was dismissed before the last matchday.{{Cite web |url=https://www.werder.de/de/aktuell/news/profis/20202021/pm-kohfeldt-16052021/|title=Werder Bremen stellt Florian Kohfeldt frei – Thomas Schaaf übernimmt bis Saisonende|date=16 May 2021 |website=werder.de|access-date=16 May 2021}}{{cite news |title=Kohfeldt muss gehen – Schaaf soll Werder Bremen vor dem Abstieg retten |url=https://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/werder-bremen-thomas-schaaf-uebernimmt-fuer-florian-kohfeldt-a-77c52ab5-c283-4c0d-bef7-8ee45082382c |access-date=16 May 2021 |work=Der Spiegel |date=16 May 2021 |language=German}} On the last matchday, Bremen lost at home 4–2 against Borussia Mönchengladbach to finish 17th in the league table; hence, they were relegated to the 2. Bundesliga for the first time since the 1979–80 season.{{Cite web|last=Heidrich|first=Matthias|date=22 May 2021|title=Grün-Weiß trägt Trauer! Werder Bremen steigt aus der Bundesliga ab|trans-title=Green-white mourns! Werder Bremen are relegated from the Bundesliga|url=https://www.ndr.de/sport/fussball/Fussball-Bundesliga-Werder-Bremen-Borussia-Moenchengladbach,werder13602.html|access-date=22 May 2021|website=NDR|language=de}}

Career statistics

=Club=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{Cite news|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/schaafthomas/1992/#Bundesliga|title=Thomas Schaaf|publisher=Fussballdaten|language=de|access-date=22 April 2013}}

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|CupTotal includes two DFL-Supercup matches (1988, 1991)

!colspan="2"|EuropeIncludes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Cup and European Super Cup

!colspan="2"|Total

Division||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals
rowspan="17"|Werder Bremen

|1978–79

|rowspan="2"|Bundesliga

|1

000colspan="2"|—10
1979–80

|0

000colspan="2"|—00
1980–81

|2. Bundesliga

|19

140colspan="2"|—231
1981–82rowspan="14"|Bundesliga

|1

000colspan="2"|—10
1982–83

|21

11150272
1983–84

|29

15040381
1984–85

|32

14020381
1985–86

|30

32020343
1986–87

|29

42020334
1987–88

|29

14191423
1988–89

|23

25041323
1989–90

|19

02050260
1990–91

|13

010colspan="2"|—140
1991–92

|18

04060280
1992–93

|5

0001060
1993–94

|9

03030150
1994–95

|3

0000030
colspan="3"|Career total

!281

1437243236118

=Manager=

{{updated|22 May 2021}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
rowspan="2"|Teamrowspan="2"|Fromrowspan="2"|Tocolspan="9"|Record
{{Tooltip|M|Matches coached}}{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}}{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}{{Tooltip|L|Matches lost}}{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
Werder Bremen II1 July 19959 May 1999

{{WDL|137|64|30|43|for=277|against=187|diff=yes}}

|{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen II|url=https://www.kicker.de/werder-bremen-ii/spielplan/rl-nord-1994-2000/1995-96|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}{{cite web|title=Regionalliga Nord (1994–2000) – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/rl-nord-1994-2000/spieltag/1996-97/34/0|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen II|url=https://www.kicker.de/werder-bremen-ii/spielplan/rl-nord-1994-2000/1997-98|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen II|url=https://www.kicker.de/werder-bremen-ii/spielplan/rl-nord-1994-2000/1998-99|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}

Werder Bremen10 May 199918 May 2013

{{WDL|672|321|141|210|for=1218|against=903|diff=yes}}

|{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen|url=https://www.kicker.de/werder-bremen/spielplan/bundesliga/1998-99|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/1998-99/34/0|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen " Fixtures & Results 1999/2000|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/werder-bremen/2000/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=7 July 2016}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen|url=https://www.kicker.de/werder-bremen/spielplan/bundesliga/2000-01|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen " Fixtures & Results 2001/2002|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/werder-bremen/2002/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=7 July 2016}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen " Fixtures & Results 2002/2003|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/werder-bremen/2003/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=7 July 2016}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen " Fixtures & Results 2003/2004|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/werder-bremen/2004/3/|website=World Football|access-date=8 July 2016}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen " Fixtures & Results 2004/2005|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/werder-bremen/2005/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=7 July 2016}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen " Fixtures & Results 2005/2006|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/werder-bremen/2006/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=7 July 2016}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen " Fixtures & Results 2006/2007|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/werder-bremen/2007/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=7 July 2016}}{{cite web|title=Champions League 2007/2008 " Group C|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/schedule/champions-league-2007-2008-gruppe-c/0/|publisher=World Football|access-date=7 July 2016}}{{cite web|title=Weder Bremen|url=https://www.kicker.de/werder-bremen/spielplan/bundesliga/2008-09|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen|url=https://www.kicker.de/werder-bremen/spielplan/bundesliga/2009-10|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen|url=https://www.kicker.de/werder-bremen/spielplan/bundesliga/2010-11|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen|url=https://www.kicker.de/werder-bremen/spielplan/bundesliga/2011-12|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen|url=https://www.kicker.de/werder-bremen/spielplan/bundesliga/2012-13|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=7 July 2016|language=de}}

Eintracht Frankfurt21 May 201426 May 2015

{{WDL|36|12|10|14|for=59|against=64|diff=yes}}

|

Hannover 9628 December 20153 April 2016

{{WDL|11|1|0|10|for=4|against=23|diff=yes}}

|

Werder Bremen16 May 202130 June 2021

{{WDL|1|0|0|1|for=2|against=4|diff=yes}}

|

colspan="3"| Total

{{WDLtot|857|398|181|278|for=1560|against=1181|diff=yes}}

!—

Notes

Honours

=Player=

Werder Bremen

=Manager=

Werder Bremen

Individual

  • German Football Manager of the Year: 2004{{cite web|url=http://www.trainer-baade.de/alle-trainer-des-jahres/|title=Alle Trainer des Jahres|website=Trainer Baade|access-date=21 September 2020|language=de}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Schaaf, Thomas}}

Category:1961 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Mannheim

Category:German men's footballers

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:SV Werder Bremen II players

Category:SV Werder Bremen players

Category:Bundesliga players

Category:2. Bundesliga players

Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers

Category:German football managers

Category:SV Werder Bremen managers

Category:Eintracht Frankfurt managers

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Category:SV Werder Bremen II managers

Category:Bundesliga managers

Category:West German men's footballers