Danny Cornelius comes from Bottrop and has been at home in the far north for over a decade. He is now a successful Oberliga coach.

Danny Cornelius will still be familiar to many soccer fans in the Ruhr area.

The Bottrop native once played in the youth team at Rot-Weiss Essen, later at SG Wattenscheid 09, and was also a professional at Wuppertaler SV.

Rhenania Bottrop, Fortuna Bottrop, Rot-Weiss Essen, and SG Wattenscheid 09 (2000-2004) were Danny Cornelius’ youth clubs. He has lost his heart to RWE to this day. In addition, he made eleven appearances for Wattenscheid’s first team and 23 appearances for Wuppertaler SV in the west. The 153-time third division player played most of his career for VfB Lübeck, making 65 appearances, scoring nine goals, and providing 23 assists. Cornelius has been living in the north of Germany with his wife and four children for more than twelve years.

From January 17, 2023, he was responsible for VfB Lübeck’s U15 regional league team before joining SC Rönnau as senior coach in the summer of 2024 and, four months later in November 2024, taking up the position of head coach at traditional club VfR Neumünster.

I learned the most from Pavel Dotchev, who was my coach in Erfurt. Especially when it comes to the human side of things.

Danny Cornelius

In the Schleswig-Holstein Oberliga, 40-year-old Cornelius, who holds a B license, ranks sixth with VfR Neumünster. Before the current season, Cornelius spoke of retaining his place in the Schleswig-Holstein Oberliga and also had his sights set on the Hallenmasters in January 2026 at the Wunderino Arena in Kiel. Participation in the Masters is already confirmed and, with a 15-point lead over the danger zone, retention of his place is as good as certain.

The VfR players really enjoy working with Coach Cornelius. “He’s just a really cool guy who speaks the players’ language and is very close to us. He’s both easy-going and always up for a story and a laugh, as well as being totally focused and meticulous,” VfR defender Jonas Schomaker told “Kicker.”

Cornelius himself feels right at home in Neumünster. His contract runs until June 30, 2028. The club is counting on Cornelius and will also support him in his A-license training.

“I have submitted my application for the A license. The club has said that I can do the A license, and VfR is giving me the financial and time resources to get the whole thing off the ground. That’s a big compliment for me,“ says the Bottrop native. Cornelius adds regarding his future goals with VfR Neumünster: ”We are in calm waters and want to establish ourselves as a good Oberliga team and develop and strengthen the team step by step.”

He cites the current third division record coach as his coaching role model. Cornelius: “I’ve learned the most from Pavel Dotchev, who was my coach in Erfurt. Especially when it comes to the human side of things.” And that’s exactly what the VfR Neumünster players appreciate so much about Danny Cornelius.