http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hannover-96-c39492 flying high in Bundesliga, Mirko Slomka guiding the Reds towards glory
At the start of the Bundesliga season, Hannover 96 were just another bottom of the table club expected to fight for survival. UEFA Champions League was a term unheard of. The club had finished 15th in the 2009/2010 season and the fans were bracing themselves for yet another battling campaign. Enter Mirko Slomka, the 43-year-old tactician, and the fans have been left surprised, and what a delightful surprise it has been. Third spot in the League table with seven weeks of action left in the season, the Reds are staring are at the end of the tunnel, and UEFA Champions League beckons.
Slomka has done well in securing his side’s success this term. The former Schalke 04 tactician took over from Andreas Bergmann in January 2010 and steered the club clear of relegation last season. The 43-year-old tactician has gone one step better this term, as the Reds have been one of the major surprises of the 2010/11 campaign.
This is not the first time Slomka has worked with the Bundesliga minnows. He joined the Reds as the assistant coach for 2001/02 season and remained with the outfit until 2003/04 season. He then moved on to manage another Bundesliga outfit, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Schalke-04-c39204. His tactical insight and creative game plans have played a vital role in Hannover’s ascend this season. His target this season will be to finish in top three teams in the Bundesliga, as the league leaders Borussia Dortmund are sitting safely at the top of the table. With a mammoth 12 points lead to cover, Bundesliga title is a virtual impossibility.
The 43-year-old’s contract was set to run out in the summers, but Slomka’s superb leadership has earned him a contract extension. His latest contract will make sure that the manager will keep leading the Red’s charge at AWD-Arena until the summer of 2013.
After signing contract extension, Slomka said, “I'm staying with Hannover out of a deep conviction. I am enjoying working here, getting a lot of support and the team has developed fantastically. I want to build on that, which is especially appealing in my home town”.
The Reds fans were ecstatic when they heard about the renewal of Slomka’s contract and appreciated the team management for this move. The fan’s joy is understandable. Under the manager’s mercurial guidance, Hannover are on the verge of achieveing their best ever league position.
The club president, Martin Kind, was similarly delighted after his club successfully negotiated terms with the former FC Schalke 04 tactician.
Kind said, “We're delighted that Mirko Slomka has agreed to continue his successful work with our team. He has achieved a lot over the past year, ensuring the club's Bundesliga survival in spite of testing circumstances last year and this season we have enjoyed our best ever campaign in the top flight.”
While a third placed finish remains the dream, Bayern Munich are not far behind, trailing the surprise package by a mere two points. Slomka needs to keep weaving his managerial wand in order to keep the Bavarian giants at bay. Moreover, the expectations would now be sky-high for the next season. Can the 43-year-old exceed expectations then is a different question altogether.
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