
<p>Schalke fired head coach Frank Kramer on Wednesday. The sacking certainly did not come as a surprise to many around the club. Kramer’s last match in charge was a heavy 5-1 defeat to Hoffenheim in the German Cup. </p>



<p>The cup loss was the club’s fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions. In the last game before that 5-1 loss to Hoffenheim, Schalke lost 3-0 to that same Hoffenheim side. Then, in the fixture before that, Bayer Leverkusen beat Schalke,, 3-0. The Leverkusen loss was former star midfielder Xabi Alonso’s first game in charge of a senior club.</p>



<p>“After <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/05/07/schalke-promoted-back-into-bundesliga-after-dramatic-comeback/">achieving promotion last season</a>, our goal for the new campaign was to remain in the Bundesliga,” <a href="https://schalke04.de/en/team/fc-schalke-04-part-ways-with-frank-kramer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">claimed</a> Schalke sporting director Rouven Schroder. “Until recently we were convinced that we could turn things around with the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/06/07/newly-promoted-schalke-name-kramer-as-head-coach/">current coaching setup</a>, but from our point of view, we’ve now reached a point in time that we have to make a change.” </p>



<h2>Schalke sack head coach amid losing streak</h2>



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<p>Schalke currently have just one win in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/bundesliga-tv-schedule/">Bundesliga</a> play and sit in 17th place in the standings. Its sole victory came in a September matchup with VfL Bochum, a team currently sitting bottom of the league.</p>



<p>“The way that we’ve been playing, especially in the away games against Leverkusen and Hoffenheim, is not worthy of FC Schalke 04,” <a href="https://schalke04.de/en/team/fc-schalke-04-part-ways-with-frank-kramer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> team board member Peter Knabel. “This analysis stretches beyond just the head coach as an individual. We need to improve significantly in all areas to be able to achieve our common objective for the season – remaining in the Bundesliga.”</p>



<p>German outlet <a href="https://www.bild.de/bild-plus/sport/fussball/schalke/schalke-04-wann-fliegt-frank-kramer-dieser-trainer-steht-bereit-81665502.bild.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bild</a> claims Schalke eye Thomas Reis as Kramer’s successor. VfL Bochum sacked Reis last month. In fact, Bochum only fired Reis after losing to Schalke on Sep. 10 by a score of 3-1.</p>



<p>Schalke suffered relegation to the German second tier following the 2020/21. The Royal Blues quickly, however, gained promotion back to the top flight. Nevertheless, it will be an <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/08/04/werder-bremen-and-schalke-ready-to-deliver-on-bundesliga-return/">uphill battle for the club</a> to remain in the Bundesliga.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Kirchner-Media</em></p>


Schalke relieved head coach Frank Kramer of his duties following a fifth-consecutive loss. It has a successor in mind already.

Schalke fires head coach, eyes former Bochum boss - World Soccer Talk

Schalke fires head coach, eyes former Bochum boss

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<p>As the lead commentator for ESPN’s coverage and a long-time world feed broadcaster of the German top flight, few have Derek Rae’s knowledge of the Bundesliga.</p>
<p>World Soccer Talk had the chance to have a phone call with Rae to break down his predictions for the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign. While not an official table, Rae did offer some insights into what the season may hold.</p>
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<h3>Derek Rae talks 2022/23 Bundesliga season</h3>
<p>The conversation touches on a variety of topics within the league. At the top of the table, Derek Rae does not see the monopoly of domination from Bayern Munich changing. Despite losing its talisman in Robert Lewandowski, the depth is simply too much to match as of now. Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, is already facing some poor luck. Sebastian Haller, the new striker replacing Erling Haaland at the top of the line, is set to miss time <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2022/07/19/dortmunds-haller-vows-to-come-back-stronger-after-testicular-tumour-diagnosis/">after the discovery of a tumor</a>.</p>
<p>The common focus of the Bundesliga is on Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. However, in Derek Rae’s Bundesliga chat, he talks about the battle at the bottom of the table, as well.</p>
<p>Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen make a return to the Bundesliga. Yet, safety is far from guaranteed. Derek Rae predicts that a number of teams could be under the microscope as they look to stay alive in the Bundesliga this season.</p>
<h5>ESPN coverage of the Bundesliga</h5>
<p>The interview above also touches on ESPN’s continued coverage of the Bundesliga.</p>
<p>Rae is the voice behind ESPN’s major weekend with the Bundesliga. Now in its third year of broadcasting the league, ESPN welcomes back the likes of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in a big way. With pitch-side coverage from Frankfurt and Dortmund on Friday and Saturday, respectively, the Bundesliga is officially back.</p>
<p>On both Friday and Saturday, Derek Rae is on the call. For Friday’s fixture, Bayern Munich, the “Rekordmeister” of the Bundesliga, takes on the 2021/22 Europa League champions, Eintracht Frankfurt. Coverage of Friday’s game is on <a href="https://go.web.plus.espn.com/mWebq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN+</a> and ESPN Deportes, exclusively.</p>
<p>Then, on Saturday, ABC is the channel of Derek Rae. He calls Borussia Dortmund’s battle hosting Bayer Leverkusen. The game on ABC is also available on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes.</p>


Derek Rae, ESPN's lead voice for its Bundesliga coverage, joins World Soccer Talk to break down his takes for the upcoming campaign.

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Leagues: Bundesliga

Schalke fires head coach, eyes former Bochum boss

Leagues: Bundesliga

Derek Rae previews the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign