Rot-Weiss Essen travels to SC Verl on Saturday (December 13, 4:30 p.m.). Uwe Koschinat celebrates his one-year anniversary at Rot-Weiss Essen.
It was December 12, 2024, when Uwe Koschinat started his job at Rot-Weiss Essen and was presented as the successor to Christoph Dabrowski.
One year later, the 54-year-old sat at the press conference before the game at SC Verl and was asked by the media what the 365 days as coach of Rot-Weiss Essen had done to him.
Koschinat recalls: “In any case, a year ago I was absolutely aware of the initial situation. A year later, you can’t compare the situation. When I took over, a match between two traditional clubs in extreme crisis was just around the corner. VfL Osnabrück was in an even worse position than RWE.“
He goes on to explain: ”It was very exciting to get to know a team in such a short time. They then developed very well. The people made me feel that I was part of this club and that I could be very close to them emotionally. They made me feel that I was in the right place.”
And Koschinat is well aware that expectations of the team, the coach, and indeed the entire club have risen. “With the successes, expectations have also changed somewhat and been raised. The expectation for the final result is no longer just to avoid relegation. But we are facing up to that and I also see further potential. With two successful weeks, we can play the best first half of the season in third division history, and we have this in our own hands.“
RWE has 30 points to its name. Nevertheless, there is still some rumbling. Koschinat has also come to terms with this sometimes critical audience and media. He says: ”At Rot-Weiss Essen, there is always a ‘but’. That’s also part of the club. We are in a really great position at the moment.“
The Essen crowd may be critical at times, but they are also very emotional towards their favorites – regardless of whether they are coaches or players. The ‘Uwe’ chants are part of the standard repertoire after winning games. ”I can’t deny that it made me very proud.”
“Uwe, Uwe” could once again echo from around 2,000 Essen throats if Rot-Weiss Essen were to win away at SC Verl on Saturday for the first time in over twelve years. Just in time for Koschinat’s red and white anniversary – actually a perfect moment.