Volker Finke
Encyclopedia
Volker Finke is a German
football
manager and former player. He managed SC Freiburg
from July 1991 to May 2007. This made him the longest-serving manager in the history of professional football in Germany. Until 1990, Finke worked as a sports and social studies teacher at the Albert Schweitzer school in his hometown of Nienburg.
until 1969. After that he moved to Hannoverscher SC, where he stayed until 1975.
. He led the club to five promotions, after which he returned to TSV Havelse, where he stayed until 1990. He led the club up the German second division, which was the best position in the club's history. After one season in SC Norderstedt, near Hamburg
, he finally changed to SC Freiburg in 1991. There he made them rise from the second German league to the first German league in 1993, 1998 and 2003, as well as the qualification for the UEFA Cup
in 1995 and 2001.
He resigned as coach of SC Freiburg on May 20, 2007, after the club's second successive season of missing out on promotion back to the Bundesliga
by one place.
On 6 December 2008, the Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds
announced they signed a contract with Finke as head coach until 2010.
On 18 December 2010 was named as the new Director of Sport by 1. FC Köln
, his contract started on 1 February 2011.
Effective on 27 April 2011 he additionally became interim coach till end of season.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
manager and former player. He managed SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg, commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German association football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. SC Freiburg has played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, since their promotion in 2009...
from July 1991 to May 2007. This made him the longest-serving manager in the history of professional football in Germany. Until 1990, Finke worked as a sports and social studies teacher at the Albert Schweitzer school in his hometown of Nienburg.
Career as player
Volker Finke's first club was TSV HavelseTSV Havelse
TSV Havelse is a German association football club based in Garbsen, Lower Saxony, near Hanover.-History:The club was founded in 1912 as FC Pelikan-Havelse by a group of thirteen young men from the small village of Havelse. They took their name from the maker's brand of the first football purchased...
until 1969. After that he moved to Hannoverscher SC, where he stayed until 1975.
Career as coach
In 1975, Finke started his career as a coach at TSV StelingenTSV Stelingen
TSV Stelingen is a German sports club based in the Stelingen district of Garbsen. The club's football division notably qualified for the 1986–87 DFB-Pokal, where they were eliminated by Arminia Bielefeld. They also won the 1986 Saxony Cup. Volker Finke is the most notable figure associated with...
. He led the club to five promotions, after which he returned to TSV Havelse, where he stayed until 1990. He led the club up the German second division, which was the best position in the club's history. After one season in SC Norderstedt, near Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, he finally changed to SC Freiburg in 1991. There he made them rise from the second German league to the first German league in 1993, 1998 and 2003, as well as the qualification for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
in 1995 and 2001.
He resigned as coach of SC Freiburg on May 20, 2007, after the club's second successive season of missing out on promotion back to the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
by one place.
On 6 December 2008, the Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...
announced they signed a contract with Finke as head coach until 2010.
On 18 December 2010 was named as the new Director of Sport by 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
, his contract started on 1 February 2011.
Effective on 27 April 2011 he additionally became interim coach till end of season.
Honours
SC Freiburg- 2. Bundesliga champions: 1992-93, 2002–03
- 2. Bundesliga runners-up (promotion): 1997-98