Thomas Schaaf
Encyclopedia
Thomas Schaaf is a former German
football defender
and current manager
of Werder Bremen
. A true one-club man, he spent his entire playing career, and so far coaching career, with Werder Bremen
. Schaaf has coached the team since 1999, making him the longest serving, of the current coaches in the Bundesliga.
in 1972, turning professional six years later. After a slow start with the first team, where he made twenty Bundesliga
appearances during four years, he eventually became an important squad member. Schaaf went on to play 262 first division matches, eventually retiring in 1994. In his time at Werder
, Schaaf helped the team to the championship in 1988 and 1993, as well as two domestic cup
s. In the 1991-92 Cup Winners' Cup, he was on the bench for the final against AS Monaco
, but replaced injured Thomas Wolter
after 30 minutes, helping Werder
to a 2-0 win.
, before succeeding Felix Magath
on 9 May 1999 as the senior side's coach, with Werder
under serious threat of relegation until the last day of the season. He not only managed to avert the relegation in 1999, but also went on to win DFB-Pokal immediately afterwards. As a coach, Schaaf led Werder
to the double
in 2003–04, as well as the first-ever DFB-Ligapokal
two years later. From 2004, the club managed to qualify five consecutive times for the UEFA Champions League
, coming short in 2008-09 but winning DFB-Poka (Schaaf’s third as a manager - fifth overall - and Werder's
sixth), thus qualifying for the Europa League. In December 2009, he signed a new contract with Werder
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
football defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and current manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
of Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
. A true one-club man, he spent his entire playing career, and so far coaching career, with Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
. Schaaf has coached the team since 1999, making him the longest serving, of the current coaches in the Bundesliga.
Playing career
Schaaf arrived at Werder Bremen's youth academySV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
in 1972, turning professional six years later. After a slow start with the first team, where he made twenty Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
appearances during four years, he eventually became an important squad member. Schaaf went on to play 262 first division matches, eventually retiring in 1994. In his time at Werder
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
, Schaaf helped the team to the championship in 1988 and 1993, as well as two domestic cup
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
s. In the 1991-92 Cup Winners' Cup, he was on the bench for the final against AS Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
, but replaced injured Thomas Wolter
Thomas Wolter
Thomas Wolter is a German former footballer, now manager of Werder Bremen II. He played for Werder Bremen from 1984 to 1998, his entire professional career.-Honours:*Bundesliga: 1988, 1993*DFB-Supercup: 1988, 1993, 1994...
after 30 minutes, helping Werder
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
to a 2-0 win.
Coaching career
Schaaf began his coaching career while still an active player, taking care of Werder's youth sides. After this he proceeded to manage the reserve teamSV Werder Bremen II
SV Werder Bremen II is the reserve team of Werder Bremen. It currently plays in the 3. Liga and has been a regular fixture at 3rd level football in Germany...
, before succeeding Felix Magath
Felix Magath
Wolfgang-Felix Magath is a former German football central midfielder and current manager of VfL Wolfsburg.-Playing career:...
on 9 May 1999 as the senior side's coach, with Werder
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
under serious threat of relegation until the last day of the season. He not only managed to avert the relegation in 1999, but also went on to win DFB-Pokal immediately afterwards. As a coach, Schaaf led Werder
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
to the double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
in 2003–04, as well as the first-ever DFB-Ligapokal
DFB-Ligapokal
The DFB-Ligapokal, or German League Cup, was a German football competition that took place before the start of the Bundesliga season, featuring the top five teams of the previous Fußball-Bundesliga season and the winners of the DFB-Pokal in Germany...
two years later. From 2004, the club managed to qualify five consecutive times for the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, coming short in 2008-09 but winning DFB-Poka (Schaaf’s third as a manager - fifth overall - and Werder's
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
sixth), thus qualifying for the Europa League. In December 2009, he signed a new contract with Werder
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
.
Player
- Werder BremenSV Werder BremenSV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
- Fußball-BundesligaFußball-BundesligaThe Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
: 1987-88, 1992-93 - DFB-PokalDFB-PokalThe DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
: 1990-91, 1993-94 - UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: 1991-92
- Fußball-Bundesliga
Managerial
- Werder BremenSV Werder BremenSV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
- Fußball-BundesligaFußball-BundesligaThe Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
: 2003-04 - DFB-PokalDFB-PokalThe DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
: 1998-99, 2003-04, 2008-09 - DFB-LigapokalDFB-LigapokalThe DFB-Ligapokal, or German League Cup, was a German football competition that took place before the start of the Bundesliga season, featuring the top five teams of the previous Fußball-Bundesliga season and the winners of the DFB-Pokal in Germany...
: 2006DFB-LigapokalThe DFB-Ligapokal, or German League Cup, was a German football competition that took place before the start of the Bundesliga season, featuring the top five teams of the previous Fußball-Bundesliga season and the winners of the DFB-Pokal in Germany...
- Fußball-Bundesliga