Heidenheim will lose its long‑time mastermind when Frank Schmidt bows out after the 2026/27 campaign, ending a near‑two‑decade reign. For my money, his departure marks the biggest shift the club has faced in generations.
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The longest-serving coach in German professional football, Schmidt has decided not to extend his expiring contract, having informed club chairman Holger Sanwald of his decision on Monday.
“I was impressed by how hard the club worked to extend my contract again. Over the past few weeks, however, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time to make a decision, also to give FCH the ability to plan ahead. After nearly 20 years as head coach at FCH, I simply want to take a break this summer,” Schmidt explained.
“I’m not worrying right now about how long this break will be or what’s in store for me from 1 July – on the contrary, I’m forbidding myself from thinking about it until then. Instead, I’ll give it my all until the very last game to ensure we achieve the greatest possible success this season. One thing is certain: together as FCH, we’ve written a unique chapter in German professional football over many years, but the final chapter isn’t over yet.”
Watch: Frank Schmidt’s Heidenheim history
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