In 2005, Markus Weinzierl had reached a point at which he had to admit: "It’s doesn’t make sense anymore." For months, the then 30-year-old had been plagued by a knee injury. Just as dogged as the defensive midfielder was on the pitch during his active playing career, he battled off the pitch to continue his professional existence. But as his knee continually swelled upon more intensive activity, and having spent more time with an array of doctors and physiotherapists rather than on the pitch, he came to a final conclusion – it was time to call time on an active career in which he made 53 ‘2. Bundesliga’ appearances for Stuttgarter Kickers, Jahn Regensburg and SpVgg Unterhaching, as well as 144 games in the 'Regionalliga' for FC Bayern Munich II, SV Lohhof and Jahn Regensburg.

Much of the early part of his career was spent in Lower-Bavaria. At home in Salching, near Straubing, he first played for TSV Straubing and then 1. FC Passau, where in 1992, at 17 years of age, he made his first senior outing in the 'Bayernliga' – then the country’s third-flight. Following a further station at SV Lohhof, in 1995, Weinzierl moved to FC Bayern Munich, where he spent four years – two of which training with the professional team and also featuring in friendly games – mostly in the reserve team, with whom he made his only competitive appearances for Bayern. However, his time under renowned coaches such as Giovanni Trapattoni or Ottmar Hitzfeld had a lasting effect. From each he gained not only tactical insight, but also learned a great deal about handling young players. That was also to prove the case under Dragoslav Stepanovic, his coach at Stuttgarter Kickers. There Markus Weinzierl played the bulk of his second-flight games (40 in all) between 1999 and 2001. There followed stints with SpVgg Unterhaching and Jahn Regensburg, where he ultimately ended his active playing career in 2005 and subsequently became assistant-coach of the professional team in April 2006.

A period of observation

The coaching career of Markus Weinzierl, a former trainee-teacher, would prove more successful than his playing career had. Having been promoted to head coach of the third-division side in November 2008, he guided the team into the '2. Bundesliga' in the 2012/2013 season. Just days after winning promotion, Markus Weinzierl, who had intermittently successfully achieved his coaching-licence, announced his move to FC Augsburg – where his successful run was to continue. In 2013/2014, the Bundesliga side finished in a single-digit position for the first time in their history – eighth place! Just a year later, Markus Weinzierl led Augsburg into the UEFA Europa League for the first time ever. In summer 2016, he then moved on to FC Schalke 04, where he was to spend a year as head coach.

Over the past 16 months, Markus Weinzierl had the opportunity to spend more time with his family, including two teenage children. During that period, he made use of the free-time to hold countless discussions and observe the work being done by other coaches – for the first time also having the opportunity to look left and right of what goes on as head coach of a professional team. For example, in recent months, the 43-year-old spent a week with Manchester City, whilst also enjoying periods with the professional teams in Leverkusen, Mönchengladbach, Bremen and Watford. Now he feels ready to take on the challenge of VfB.