An era is coming to an end at SpVgg Steele 03/09 following the current season. Dirk Möllensiep is stepping down. Before he leaves, he wants to lead the team to safety.
After a 1-5 loss to Sterkrade-Nord to start the new year 2026, SpVgg Steele 03/09 was able to show its better side this time and won the Essen derby at Baldeneysee 3-1 against Heisinger SV.
“That was a six-point game, so we’re all the happier,” Dirk Möllensiep breathes a sigh of relief. The Steele coach adds: “Within just a few days, we’ve once again shown our two sides: the worse one against Sterkrade and the better, true one against Heisingen. Aside from Fabian Handke’s broken nose, it was a nearly perfect game. In Heisingen, thanks in part to the strong commitment that was missing the week before, we showed what we’re capable of. We need to keep this up.”
Möllensiep’s team is above the relegation line with 19 points. “Our goal must be to secure our place in the league as early as possible in the coming weeks. We don’t want to be on the edge of our seats until the very end,” emphasizes the 55-year-old.
Steele’s next chance to add to their points tally comes on Sunday (February 22, 5 p.m.) at Seumannstraße in Altenessen against Rot-Weiss Essen II. Möllensiep: “That’s obviously a dream match. The bar is set very high there. But we have to give it our all, and then we’ll see what’s possible if we can keep a clean sheet for a long time. And of course: We have to stop Marcel Platzek.”
Many say I won’t be able to stick it out and will be back on the sidelines by the end of 2026 at the latest. But no! I’ve promised that not only to my wife, but also to myself: My time as a coach will be over for me after this season.
Dirk Möllensiep
RWE II kicked off the second half of the season with two convincing wins against Arminia Lirich and Blau-Gelb Überruhr. But if it were up to the experienced coaching veteran Möllensiep, the third-division club’s reserve team would not be promoted to the Landesliga. “I don’t think RWE II will be promoted. I consider teams like Arminia Klosterhardt, SV Burgaltendorf, and Sterkrade 06/07 to be stronger. I think that trio will decide it among themselves,” Möllensiep offers his prediction for promotion.
If Steele 03/09 is then most likely playing in the Bezirksliga in the 2026/2027 season, the coach will no longer be Dirk Möllensiep—RevierSport reported.
And the family man, who will also become a grandfather this summer, intends to stick to his decision. He explains: “Many say that I won’t be able to handle it and will be back on the sidelines by the end of 2026 at the latest. But no! I’ve promised this not only to my wife but also to myself: My time as a coach will be over for me after this season. In the future, I will devote myself to other tasks as a sort of sports director and official vice president.”
One thing is clear: Dirk Möllensiep wants to cap off his successful coaching career by keeping the team in the Bezirksliga.