Conference League and top of the Bundesliga: 1. FC Heidenheim has made a perfect start to the season. In an interview with SWR Sport, Holger Sanwald talks about his philosophy, coach Frank Schmidt, and who calms him during turbulent times.
Five games, five wins: 1. FC Heidenheim is currently experiencing a high and is the surprise of the still young season. A huge part of this success can be attributed to Heidenheim’s chairman Holger Sanwald, who has shaped the club for 29 years.
Could he have imagined back then that he would one day play against Chelsea in the Conference League? Probably not. And even now, it still seems unrealistic for the 57-year-old: “What has happened in the last year or two is almost unbelievable.” However, he quickly adds: “But we know how to assess it; everyone stays grounded.”
Heidenheim’s Philosophy
Staying grounded and being down-to-earth is part of Holger Sanwald’s philosophy, and therefore part of FCH. This attitude is especially reflected in the club’s player philosophy: “It’s important that the players have high ambition and strong self-motivation,” says Sanwald, “they also need to be humble and modest, ideally coming from a good family background.”
However, another crucial component of this philosophy is Frank Schmidt. “The players must know that Frank Schmidt, as head coach, has the final say. When he says to go left, then we go left,” Sanwald explains. According to him, this clear vision and playing philosophy must be embraced by the players. If not, there will be consequences: “If someone wants to do their own thing, then it does not fit with us.”
Sanwald and Schmidt: “A friendship that goes far beyond football”
Frank Schmidt is in charge in Heidenheim, but not without consultation with Holger Sanwald: “We discuss every day and do not always agree, but in the end, we always find common ground.”
However, the relationship between Schmidt and Sanwald extends beyond the work environment. The two got to know each other in the regional league when Schmidt was still a player in Heidenheim. Since then, they have progressed together to the Bundesliga and now even to the Conference League: “There have certainly been some highlights and moments where we relied on and supported each other.”
Animal Support from Lucky Dog Ida
Support in Heidenheim comes not only from the manager and coach but also from Sanwald’s dog Ida, who brings good cheer on difficult days: “The 2017/18 season was the toughest for us in the second division, and the atmosphere was correspondingly tense,” the chairman recalls. After the loss to Nuremberg, it was clear that FCH needed to win the upcoming match against Düsseldorf. “To improve the mood a bit, I just took Ida with me, and it worked immediately,” Sanwald remembers, “she was jumping around like crazy, and everyone started laughing.”
At that time, FCH won against Düsseldorf, “and since then everyone knows she is our lucky dog” – and now supports daily in the manager’s office: “She always lies under my desk, and when I get anxious, she notices and looks at me briefly, then I calm down again. And she makes me laugh 100 times a day.”
Crazy Moments in Monaco
Was Ida also present during the draw of the Conference League in Monaco? Because even then, Sanwald remained calm in turbulent times: “That was one of the craziest moments of my managerial career,” the 57-year-old enthuses, “I was simultaneously busy finalizing the transfer of Niklas Dorsch and didn’t even know if it would work out because my reception was poor.”
In the meantime, the draw of the hour was being made: Heidenheim will host Chelsea. “In the end, everything worked out.”
That almost everything is currently working in Heidenheim is evident from a look at the Bundesliga table: The team from Ostalb is in first place after their 4:0 victory over Augsburg – thanks in part to the goals of strong newcomers Paul Wanner and Leonardo Scienza. Holger Sanwald’s philosophy from Heidenheim is thus currently proving completely successful.