Bundesliga Preview: Heidenheim


Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images


Frank Schmidt keeps his title of longest serving German manager for one more year.

By LoneStar249 Aug 10, 2024, 12:00am CEST

Heidenheim suffered its first losing season since 2018 but still managed to finish 8th and qualify for the club’s first UEFA competition. Manager Frank Schmidt is the longest serving active manager of any German professional club. Schmidt has consistently overachieved at Heidenheim since he took over at the club in 2007 and led them through two promotions to the top division.

Heidenheim has only played against Bayern Munich three times in history, but Heidenheim surprisingly came back from a 2-0 deficit to shock Bayern in front of 15,000 faithful fans.

While Schmidt can be expected to field another competitive squad, the lack of depth and the loss of the three top scorers suggests that Heidenheim will struggle this campaign but rebound in the 2025-26 season.

Manager: Frank Schmidt, 18th year
Total market value: €46M
Starting XI market value: €34M
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Key Players: Paul Wanner, midfielder; Lennard Maloney, midfielder; Patrick Mainka, center back
Key Additions: Paul Wanner, midfielder (loan, Bayern Munich); Mikkel Kaufmann, forward (€1.25M, Union Berlin)
Key Departures: Tim Kleindienst, forward (€7M transfer, Gladbach); Jan-Niklas Beste, left back (€8M transfer, Benfica); Eren Dinkçi, winger (end of loan, Werder Bremen)
2023-24 Bundesliga results: 10W-12D-12L, 42 points, 50 goals, 8th place
2024-25 European competition: Conference League
Bundesliga prediction: 9W-10D-15L, 37 points, 46 goals, 14th place
Opening match: Away at St. Pauli

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