KFC Uerdingen presented its new head coach on Friday afternoon, 9 December 2022. It is a former professional.

KFC Uerdingen has signed Björn Joppe as the new head coach for its Oberliga team. The 43-year-old will lead the first training session next Monday. The second-placed team in the Oberliga Niederrhein made the announcement on Friday afternoon.

Joppe was most recently a coach at Bonner SC, where he terminated his contract at the turn of the year in order to obtain his A-licence. Prior to that, he worked for 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig both in the youth sector and as team manager of the 1st team. Other stations of the 20-time second division professional, who played for VfL Bochum and Union Berlin, among others, were TuS Bersenbrück, Germania Wuppertal, DJK Eigenzell and SV Jägerhaus-Linde.

“With Björn Joppe, we have a coach who comes from the region but who has also already gained regional league experience. After our talks, we are convinced that our squad and Björn Joppe’s footballing concept are a perfect match,” explained KFC chairman Damien Raths on the signing of the contract. Previously, Dietmar Hirsch had turned down KFC – RevierSport reported.

Joppe adds: “I am very pleased to be able to take on this task at the traditional club KFC Uerdingen. This team, this club and this environment have great potential and we will work together over the next few months to finish this season as successfully as possible!”

KFC Uerdingen are in second place in the Oberliga Niederrhein after 19 games, seven points behind leaders SSVg Velbert. Krefeld’s declared goal is immediate promotion back to the Regionalliga West. In order to stick to this goal, the Blue-Reds, who are currently coached by sporting director Patrick Schneider, should make sure that they win the last two games of the year – at MSV Düsseldorf and at Cronenberger SC.