1. FC Kaiserslautern has found a new coach. Dimitrios Grammozis is tasked with leading the Red Devils out of crisis.

1. FC Kaiserslautern is in a real crisis. The first game after Dirk Schuster’s dismissal also ended in disaster, with interim coach Niklas Martin’s side losing 1-4 to 1. FC Magdeburg. It was the fourth competitive defeat in a row. Now FCK has presented a new head coach – and it’s a familiar name from the region.

Dimitrios Grammozis will take charge at Betzenberg with immediate effect, the club announced on Sunday. The 45-year-old is set to lead his first training session on the same day and make his debut in the cup against Nuremberg on Tuesday (6 p.m.).

From 2013 to 2019, Grammozis worked his way up through the youth academy of VfL Bochum to become coach of the U19 team. He got his first chance in professional football at SV Darmstadt 98, who signed him in February 2019. After missing out on promotion, the two parties parted ways in June 2020.

Nine months later, the German-Greek returned to the Ruhr region and signed for Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04. However, he was also unable to turn things around for the Royal Blues in the final stages of the season and was relegated to the 2. Bundesliga.

After a 3-4 defeat to Rostock, it was all over for Schalke

With Grammozis at the helm, the club then set about the mission of immediate promotion. However, after a 3-4 home defeat against Hansa Rostock on matchday 25, Schalke pulled the plug and sacked Grammozis in March 2022 after just one year and four days in charge. At that point, the team had slipped to sixth place and was six points behind the second and third-placed teams.

As is well known, Mike Büskens then took the helm and saved S04 from relegation. Grammozis, meanwhile, remained without a job – until December 3, 2023, when crisis-stricken 1. FC Kaiserslautern struck and gave the coach a new chance in the 2. Bundesliga.