SpVgg Greuther Fürth is parting ways with coach Thomas Kleine. As the Franks announced, Kleine and his assistants Milorad Pekovic and Marco Konrad were released. Heiko Vogel will take over the position as head coach. The 50-year-old most recently worked for FC Basel and has also worked for the second teams at FC Bayern and Borussia Mönchengladbach, among others. Due to its sporting misery, Fürth had fallen back into a relegation zone. With 13 points from 14 games, the game association is in second-to-last place in the table. The “Nürnberger Nachrichten” initially reported on the separation. Kleine initially took over Fürther on an interim basis at the beginning of May and led to them remaining in the class. After that, Kleine’s contract was extended. “Now we are in a tricky situation again, but I had the utmost confidence that we would have made it together again this time,” said Kleine. “Accordingly, I am of course very disappointed and would have liked to continue on this path.” Kleine had hoped to get another chance in the coaching bench for the derby against 1. FC Nürnberg. Next Sunday (1.30 p.m./Sky) the “Club” welcomes its local rivals. The restart with Vogel should be successful. “We have a special game coming up this weekend and will prepare for it meticulously,” said Vogel.
“Heiko brings a lot of experience, both in the professional field and in working with talented people.”
Vogel receives a contract until the summer of 2027. He brings Danny Schwarz and Aleksandro Petrovic with him to his coaching team. “Heiko brings a lot of experience, both in the professional field and in working with talent. We are convinced that he, together with his coaching team, can provide the team with structure and also promote the development of each individual,” said sports director Stephan Fürstner. The weekend defeat against VfL Bochum (0:3) was the sixth in the last seven games. With 37 goals conceded, the Fürth team is the league’s shooting gallery.
As captain of the game association, Kleine celebrated the club’s first promotion to the Bundesliga in 2012. His successful rescue mission as coach in the preseason had given those in charge confidence that they could experience a quieter season again. That didn’t work. After Alexander Zorniger was in office for two years from October 2022 to October 2024, the club is having a hard time finding a successor. Jan Siewert, who was signed in November 2024, had to leave just six months later. Kleine’s term of office is now ending prematurely.