The first Bundesliga player at Hoffenheim

Over the years, several big names have tied their laces for TSG Hoffenheim: Roberto Firmino, Andrej Kramarić, Joelinton, Niklas Süle and Oliver Baumann are just a few notable examples. But long before Hoffenheim joined the Bundesliga, there were already some big names wearing the TSG shirt. One of the first players who was also known outside of the region was Alfred Schön. The former Bundesliga player ended his career, after 210 first league and 159 second league games (including playing for SV Waldhof Mannheim and AS Nancy in France), in the Kraichgau.

Schön explained his decision to move in 1994: “Back then, I was already thinking about what would happen after my active career was over. I had officially applied to SAP – the thought behind that was that I could combine a potential position there with football at TSG. Then, during an early conversation – Dietmar Hopp and Gerd Oswald, who was an SAP board member at the time, were also present – the foundations were swiftly laid, so to speak. I did have a couple of other offers from different Oberliga clubs, but the combination of SAP and TSG Hoffenheim immediately felt like the right thing for me.”

Junior World Champion 1981

So the former professional Bundesliga player moved to TSG Hoffenheim – and into the regional league. However, in doing so, Schön was not the first former professional to move to a village club. He followed the example of Erwin Rupp, who had previously come to Hoffenheim as a former second league professional player. Like Rupp, Schön had also closely followed TSG’s positive and ambitious trajectory, and his interest was quickly awakened by Hoffenheim’s aims and possibilities. Schön was able to help his new teammates above all with his experience, as well as with his individual class as a player: originally from Wiesloch, he had, among other achievements in his career, played in the semi-final of the DFB Cup and became German junior champion while at Waldhof Mannheim. Furthermore, the former midfielder had had success playing for the German national team, and became Junior World Champion in 1981 – which for him was in fact a completely unexpected achievement: “I wasn’t originally intended to be in the squad. Up until the U17s, I’d been playing for VfB Wiesloch. It was a smaller club which was very far from being professional. Before the World Cup in 1981 I hadn’t played a single junior regional game, but then I must’ve convinced them at the last moment before the tournament, and suddenly I was in the provisional squad. I scored two goals during a test match, so that probably helped,” Schön laughs as he thinks back on it, and adds, “My coach didn’t want me to do it at first because then I would miss more league games, but he also realised that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

So Schön was allowed to play – and made an impression. In the semi-final he scored the winning goal against Romania in extra time to make the final score 1-0. As a regular player, he was part of the team that played in the final against Qatar. “Everyone was surprised because no one really had Qatar down as a football nation, but during the tournament they eliminated both England and Brazil. Before the final, it rained extremely heavily, so parts of the pitch were difficult to play on. We dealt with the conditions better and won 4-0,” Schön recalls.

What followed exceeded the expectations of the lad from Wiesloch. Back in his hometown, he was greeted at the airport by former national coach Helmut Schön (no relation). In his home parish of Frauenweiler, the local fanfare band went out to the courtyard one evening and played the German national anthem.

Promotion to Oberliga as a coach

There were more highlights to come: in 1984 Schön represented Germany in the Olympic games in the USA. “That was a very special and unique experience. After the knockout phase, we stayed in the Olympic village and could also follow other competitions. Even though I only played sporadically, and we went out in the quarter final to Yugoslavia, playing in the Olympic games was an unforgettable highpoint of my career.” Schön’s pride is visible as he speaks about the old days; his eyes glint with the memories from back then.

20240917-as__resizedimagewzmwmcwzothd

Many years later, Schön then passed on his immense wealth of experience while he was at Hoffenheim, and even towards the end of his career as a player, he demonstrated his potential as a coach. And so what was meant to be came to be: “It was a natural transition. I was already partly working as a co-coach while playing at the same time,” says Schön. In his two roles at TSG, the former Bundesliga player had a formative influence on this successful time for the club, and celebrated a total of four promotions. There were phases where he even took on the role of head coach. Under his leadership, TSG succeeded in achieving promotion to the Oberliga in 2000 – after being significantly behind during the winter break: “Back then, I took over eleven match days before the end of the league. We were ten points behind the Waldhof Mannheim second team. I remember that Mr Hopp said to me: ‘Alfred, let’s finish this round off sensibly and then we’ll start again next season.’ The fact that we still managed it and got promoted was a huge joy to everyone.” In the following years, Schön worked alongside Hansi Flick as an assistant. He knew Flick, who would go on to coach FC Bayern Munich, the German national team, and FC Barcelona, from previous Bundesliga games and benefits events. They haven’t lost touch since.

Unexpected scouting job

During his active career there were already signs that hinted at his current profession. On Sundays after recovery training, he went to amateur games in the region. As a result, Schön feels comfortable in his current job as a scout for TSG Hoffenheim. “I’m very grateful that I can now make my hobby into my job and see so many live games week after week,” he says.

And yet the job as a scout was unexpected at first. The managing director for sport at the time, Jan Schindelmeiser, asked the former midfielder in 2006 whether he wanted to take over the organisational side of scouting. Schön didn’t have to think about it for long before he accepted. “It was relatively spontaneous at the time, but it might have been one of my best decisions yet. After almost 20 years, it still just feels right,” he says. As part of his job, he communicates with the sports department on a daily basis. He was involved in spotting many new signings: Anthony Modeste, Joselu, Kevin Volland, Benjamin Hübner and Sebastian Rudy, to name just a few.

And there should be more to follow.

30 years at Hoffenheim

Alfred Schön came to TSG Hoffenheim as a player and has never left. In the past 30 years, the former professional Bundesliga player has taken on various roles at TSG.

• Player

• Co-coach Men’s First Team

• Interim coach Men’s First Team

• U23s coach

• U19s interim coach

• Academy coach

• Scout

Click here to view Alfred Schön’s page in the hall of fame.