Freiburg (dpa) – Volker Finke would have no problem if he were to lose his status as a record coach in German professional football in the near future. Finke, who turns 75 on Friday, coached SC Freiburg from 1991 to 2007, 16 years without a break. “This number may be important to journalists and others, but not to me,” he told the German Press Agency.
Frank Schmidt from 1. FC Heidenheim can already reach the age of 16 with the Swabian second division team in mid-September. Finke’s successor in Freiburg, Christian Streich, recently renewed his contract with the Sport-Club and will start his 13th season with the Sport-Club this summer. “I wish them both that they make it through the 16 years and remain coaches at their clubs for as long as possible,” said Finke.
While he spent six of his 16 years with Freiburg in the second division, Schmidt started at FCH in the Oberliga in 2007 and has coached the club continuously in the second division since 2014. Streich was relegated from the Bundesliga once with Freiburg in 2015, but was promoted again a year later.
Finke believes the Heidenheimers, who are currently second in the Bundesliga, will soon be able to gain promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time. The day would come closer, he declared. “You’ll make it eventually.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa:230322-99-42226/2
