30 years ago Rudi Assauer returned to FC Schalke 04 as manager. Fans and also many committee members were not at all in favour.

Anyone reading such lines in 2023 may find it hard to believe. Olaf Thon once told this newspaper about FC Schalke 04: “As far as Schalke’s history is concerned, you have to put Ernst Kuzorra and Rudi Assauer at the top. All the others come below them.” Assauer’s historic second term as manager was imminent 30 years ago. What many have forgotten: It was the idea of President Günter Eichberg, few fans and committee members could like the idea. Quite the opposite.

The WAZ reported 23 March 1993 that “at least six members of the board of directors voted against Assauer.” Vice-president Herbert Schmitz had threatened to resign: “No one needs to talk to me about Assauer any more – my mind is made up.” From a sporting point of view, Schalke was in the midst of a relegation battle in the first season after re-promotion, and the Assauer personnel affair also caused considerable unrest.

But why was Assauer so unpopular? On 14 March 1993, RevierSport explained it this way: “Forgetful or younger Schalke fans will wonder in irritation why Assauer is being attacked like this even before he starts work. Schalke and Assauer – a highly eventful history of their own.” Assauer’s first term in office had begun in 1981 – Schalke were promoted in 1982, but relegated straight back a year later. As RevierSport writes: “Assauer’s Bremen model ‘pensioners’ band’ had not transferred to Schalke”.

Assauer would have “banished” Norbert Nigbur and Charly Neumann and “got money, but threw it out of the window again.” In 1984, Schalke was promoted again, but Assauer’s relationship with president Dr. Hans-Joachim Fenne had become “worse and worse”, and Assauer had only called Fenne a “whistle”. On 3 December 1986 Assauer was sacked, the decisive point being his broken relationship with coach Rolf Schafstall. He declared: “No more football.”

Schalke: Assauer an “undercooled” businessman?

By then he had already lost with the fans. A poster hung in the Park Stadium: “If Assauer comes – we go!” The reasons, according to RevierSport, were that Assauer was a “cool-headed” businessman and football expert. Assauer was seen as the bogeyman responsible for the millions in deficits during his time in office. He was “brusque” and “arrogant” with the media. There were rumours that he was involved in the turnover of his contract and that he was a consultant for Olaf Thon.

A “refrigerator atmosphere” had prevailed in the club. On 19 March 1993, RevierSport printed a full page of reader reactions, most of them negative. One said: “Mr. Eichberg, if you want to draw the ire of all honest working Schalkers, get Assauer.” Another: “The ‘coal pot thug’ and ‘general skimmer’ Assauer is giving us the rest.” Next: “Sun King Eichberg plus Moon King Assauer equals Schalke’s solar eclipse.” And another: “A Rudi Assauer can never solve the problem at Schalke.” Only two readers praised: “Assauer is the best man Eichberg can get.” The second wrote: “Good alternative.”

Assauer himself took the hostility lightly, telling the Kicker, “A lot was misrepresented at the time. That there are some fans who don’t think positively of me is in the nature of things.” On 1 April 1993, despite the anger of many Schalkers, he took over as manager – and the great success story began. Qualification for the European Cup for the first time in many years in the summer of 1996 was followed by triumph in the Uefa Cup in 1997. Further titles: the DFB Cup in 2001 and 2002. In addition, the Arena, which Assauer in particular had protected, opened in 2001.

Eight years earlier, the ovation for Assauer still seemed unthinkable.