FC Schalke 04 and André Hechelmann are going their separate ways. This was announced by the second division club on Wednesday.

After two and a half years, André Hechelmann is leaving FC Schalke 04. The 39-year-old, most recently Technical Director, has agreed to part ways with the club, the Royal Blues announced on Wednesday afternoon.

This decision is effective immediately. Hechelmann’s duties will be distributed within the club until further notice. “After good discussions characterized by respect and appreciation, we have come to the decision to end our common path,” CEO Matthias Tillmann is quoted as saying.

The process of finding a successor has already been initiated. “We will definitely bring in another person who will help us achieve our goals with their expertise and conviction. “

Hechelmann came to Gelsenkirchen in the summer of 2021, when the Revierklub hired him as chief scout. He previously held the same position at Mainz 05. Following the departure of Rouven Schröder in the fall of 2022, Hechelmann was in charge of squad planning and was responsible for two transfer periods. He was officially promoted to sports director last summer

With the signing of Marc Wilmots in the winter, Schalke demoted Hechelmann. The ex-professional took over from Hechelmann, who had been working as technical director since then. Now the Würzburg native is leaving the club.

The impetus for this apparently came from the local club, as Hechelmann let slip in the announcement from S04. “In our talks with new players and employees over the past two and a half years, we have always tried to convey that the club must always be the focus and enjoy priority – no matter what situation or position the individual is in. That’s why I supported the decision about my future today with this in mind,” he said on his departure, expressing his conviction that Schalke will manage to stay in the league