Three members of Schalke’s famous 1997 UEFA Cup-winning side, Ingo Anderbruegge, Andreas Mueller and Marco van Hoogdalem, spoke exclusively to Goal.com about the situation in Gelsenkirchen.
“We expect loyalty from the players.”
Cult hero Ingo Anderbruegge has condemned the constant managerial merry-go-round, that has seen several Bundesliga coaches sacked, saying: “You expect loyalty and grit from the players. We expect figures, who quickly fit in at the club and identify themselves with the club.
“If coaches are constantly switching sides and sitting on another bench, it doesn’t serve as much of an example.”
Andreas Mueller sees it the same way. In an interview with Goal.com, the former Schalke general manager said that he wished that things would finally calm down at the club.
He stated: “Even I don’t fully understand some of the decisions that have been taken.”
Youri Mulder however believes that Ralf Rangnick will bring attractive football back to the 60,000 fans who pack out the Veltins Arena for every home game, commenting: “I know how they do things in the Ruhrgebiet. I think that Magath simply never fitted in at Schalke.”
“Whether the right decisions were taken? We will see.”
On the other hand, Marco van Hoogdalem is more cautious and wants to avoid making any instant, rash judgments.
“First wait and see. There has been too much chaos at the club. That cannot be a good thing. Whether the right decisions were taken? We will see.”
The Dutchman misses the unity and togetherness with which Schalke were able to clinch the UEFA Cup back in 1997. Even to this day, those players who won the trophy remain close.
He said of the ‘Eurofighters’: “It’s really nice to bump into old friends again. It is fun. We speak about old times and great stories from the past come up – it’s exciting. The old shiver down the spine we felt at the time returns again. This time, we recalled how Youri Mulder was stricter on Huub Stevens and imposed a fine upon him for being late. He has definitely changed, though, over the years and we have noticed the same thing with our old coach.”
The versatile defender’s career came to a rather premature end. Problems with his liver and his hip forced the now 38-year-old to look for a new career after making his last professional appearance in 2004.
Van Hoogdalem continued: “I have a new hip now. Therefore, it makes things rather difficult on the pitch. Off the pitch however, everything is going brilliantly. I work as a youth coach at Roda JC. I also have my own business, rent out holiday apartments and manage a restaurant all in Limburg, just the other side of the border with Germany.
“My liver? For the moment it is stable. Every few months I have to go to the hospital and undergo a check-up. It’s fine right now. Honestly, I have more problems with my hip. It is not easy to come to terms with it in comparison to other illnesses.”
Despite all his aches and pains, Van Hoogdalem put on his football boots once again last weekend, to play in a SuperPott charity tournament to raise funds for the victims of the devastating tsunami in Japan. A true ‘Eurofighter’ indeed.
Happy In Kerkrade
Van Hoogdalem has remained true to his roots. In Kerkrade, the former youth international has found happiness. The current good progress of Roda this season, which sees them surprisingly in seventh place in the Eredivisie, gives the Dutchman great pleasure and he is already thinking of next season: “I think that our sporting director Martin van Geel has had a big impact at the club. Unfortunately, he will move to Feyenoord in the summer.
“That is of course a big loss for us. In saying that, if I look at the plans he has laid out for the coming years, I think that we are on the right path. I want the same thing for Schalke.”
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Schalke’s ‘Eurofighters’ Express Their Concerns About The Club