VfL Bochum has made the decision everyone around the club has been waiting for: Thomas Reis has been relieved of his duties as head coach. A pro and con.

VfL Bochum has made the right decision

by Krystian Wozniak

First of all: Thomas Reis is a very likeable person and has celebrated great successes with VfL Bochum – returning to the Bundesliga after more than a decade and staying in the league, with a highly attractive style of play. A style of football that thrilled not only VfL fans in the 2021/2022 season, but also those of the entire Bundesliga.

But now to the facts, and they speak against Reis: He was the right coach for VfL, but is no longer. In Bochum, too, the mechanisms of business take hold. Six games, six defeats, the worst start in the history of the Bundesliga. That’s all that really needs to be said. After all, football is a results sport and the numbers don’t lie. VfL acted professionally and pulled the ripcord with Reis. It was the right decision!

And: Whether Reis had a hot flirtation with Schalke in the summer or not – that certainly played no to a very minor role in the decision of those responsible. Because the only thing that matters now is VfL Bochum – the well-being of the club, which, as we all know, is paramount. Reis did not manage to turn things around and must now leave – Schalke flirtation or no Schalke flirtation.

And one more thing: It would have made VfL more likeable if Reis had been given a “free ride” and had gone down this path with him, if necessary via the 2nd Bundesliga, but in the end those responsible also know how difficult it is to get promoted and now they are doing everything they can to stay in the Bundesliga. That’s why the decision was not made with the heart, emotionally, but rather with the head, rationally.

VfL Bochum has made the wrong decision

by Erik Asmussen

VfL Bochum and Thomas Reis: that seemed to be the perfect love affair for just under three years. But lately the relationship has been deeply scratched, mainly because of the side noises surrounding the contract talks and the 48-year-old’s flirtation with Schalke. Added to this is the sporting crisis. Now Reis has been released. That is a bad decision.

In view of the bare facts, it seems like a logical step, because VfL has made the weakest start in Bundesliga history. But the reasons for this are only to a limited extent within the coach’s sphere of influence. The squad has lost quality after the upheaval and still has to find its feet. In addition, there have been several injuries and poor form of supposed key players. Nevertheless, the VfL was almost always competitive. They fought and had chances. It was individual mistakes that cost Bochum the points.

Reis himself remained combative until the end and was still confident after the Schalke game that he would be able to turn things around. He received support from leading players like Anthony Losilla. And he also seemed to still have credit with many fans. So the question is: Why should the turnaround be more likely to succeed under another coach than under Reis?