SC Paderborn’s second team has found a successor for Daniel Brinkmann, who has moved to FC Hansa Rostock.

Daniel Brinkmann took over as coach of the U21 regional league team of second division club SC Paderborn on July 1, 2024. Just four months later, on November 1, 2024, the 38-year-old left East Westphalia.

The reason: Third division club FC Hansa Rostock was looking for a new coach and Brinkmann followed the call.

Around three weeks later, SC Padrerborn II has now found Brinkmann’s successor and officially announced him. It is a returning player.

Thomas Bertels, who played for the blue and black team from 2011 to 2018, is returning to Paderborn from FC Schalke 04, where he was coach of the U17 team. The 38-year-old takes over as coach of the U21 team, which currently ranks eighth in the Regionalliga West. Janik Brosch, who has already served as interim coach in the same role for the team in its last two games, will be the assistant coach of the U21 team.

Bertels joined Paderborn from SC Verl in the summer of 2011, where he quickly became an integral part of the professional team. During his active career, the left-footed player made more than 150 appearances for SCP. He then took over the position of assistant coach of the U19 team at the youth academy. This was followed by roles as coach of the U16 (2019-2022) and U21 (2022/2023) teams, with whom he achieved promotion to the Regionalliga West.

“We are very pleased to have found the ideal solution for our U21 team in Tommy. He knows SCP07 very well from his many years here and won’t need any time to settle in. We look forward to working with him,“ emphasized Ayhan Tumani, sporting director of the 07 Academy.

Bertels said of his time at Schalke’s youth academy: ”I’ve felt very comfortable here at Schalke. A year and a half ago, I made a conscious decision to join Schalke, and now I am consciously choosing to take on a coaching role in senior football. My time with the Royal Blues has been very positive. I have met some great people and made some friends. I will continue to follow the progress of the U17 team and the entire club as a fan.”