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Christian Heidel shaped an era at FSV Mainz 05.

From 1992 to 2016 he was active as a manager for the Bundesliga club, so it is hardly surprising that when he returned home he felt like home again.

It was a bit like coming home, said Heidel on Tuesday lunchtime.

“It stayed my club.

I feel good."

With Heidel, who will hold the post of sports director in Mainz in the future, and the new sports director Martin Schmidt, who was also presented at a press conference, the almost impossible will now be achieved: staying in Germany's highest soccer league.

The club is second to last with only six points from 13 games.

Contrary to expectations, the Mainz duo has not yet presented a new head coach.

The club is currently planning that interim coach Jan Siewert look after the team in the difficult away game on Sunday in Munich, said Schmidt.

The new head coach could then be presented in the coming week.

"We want a new trainer, a new stimulus, a new impulse," said Schmidt.

"It's funny"

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In the short time over Christmas, an obligation was not possible.

Schmidt did not comment on names.

Schmidt said, however, that the former Mainz professional Bo Svensson is being traded “not so absurd” because the Dane is known in the club.

“We don't say anything about the names, it's funny what part of the plan is for us.

We have specific ideas.

We're working hard. "

The Rheinhessen had already announced the return of the former success managers Heidel and von Schmidt on Monday.

Coach Jan-Moritz Lichte had the table-17.

leave.

Heidel received high-level praise at the performance.

"Nobody embodies the development of the association like he does," said the chairman of the supervisory board, Detlev Höhne, of him.

It was "not a nostalgic decision, but one for the future of the association".

Heidel worked for Mainz until four years ago, took them to the Bundesliga and is considered the discoverer of today's coaching stars Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel.

Leave of absence: Jan-Moritz Lichte

Source: AFP

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Heidel reported turbulent negotiations over the holiday on Tuesday.

“It was perhaps the strangest Christmas I've ever celebrated.

Two hours of giving presents to my daughter, before and after it was really just about the topic, ”he explained.

“That didn't feel so good.

And then the stove broke down and we could hardly eat anything. "

Ultimately, he made a decision for his new club and agreed to a contract with a term until June 30, 2022.

"It took me time, then the decision was made as it is now," said Heidel.