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Christian Schäfer - Der Professor

Can the librarian from Dresden revolutionise football?
Started on 3 April 2016 by Justice
Latest Reply on 25 June 2018 by Justice
Justice's avatar Group Justice
8 yearsEdited

Copa América 2023 Awards Ceremony


Brazil Midfielder Mosca Was Named As The Best Player Of The Copa América

09/07/2023

It was a tournament to remember for Brazil, and a number of Brazilian players picked up awards for their efforts. Midfielder Mosca was named as the Best Player of the tournament. He scored two goals in four appearances as he played a role in the knock-out stages of the tournament. Argentina's Eliseo Avramides was runner-up, while Brazil captain Neymar clinched third place.

Chile's Manuel Valdés was named as the Best Young Player of the tournament, with the defender catching the eye of many with his composed performances. Bolivia striker Ludwing Zenteno and Argentina midfielder Rolando Guerrero finished second and third respectively.


The winner of the Golden Boot was Paulo Dybala of Argentina. The Chelsea striker scored six times in five appearances to claim the prestigious award, leaving Peru's André Carrillo and Colombia's Daniel Dionisi in second and third place respectively.


Brazil's very own Cajú was named as the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament. The shot-stopper kept four cleansheets in six appearances, conceding just twice, and proved to be one of the heroes of the final where he kept Argentina at bay almost single-handedly at times. Argentina's Gerónimo Rulli and Uruguay's Sergio Rochet finished second and third behind him.


The Dream Team of the tournament contained no fewer than seven Brazil players in its ranks. Cajú, Hulk, Lucas Iago, Mosca, Philippe Coutinho, Neymar and Wesley Santos were all included for their fantastic performances throughout the tournament. Eliseo Avramides, Nicolás Bacallo and Paulo Dybala of Argentina and Ricardo Henoa of Colombia were the others in the Dream Team.




Previous Update: #44 - Neymar: My Greatest Triumph
Next Update: #46 - Christian Schäfer Calls Time On Brazil Spell
#Brazil Domination
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Domination by the Selecao, great to see!
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Justice's avatar Group Justice
8 yearsEdited

Christian Schäfer Calls Time On Brazil Spell


Manager Christian Schäfer Has Resigned From Brazil Following Copa América Success

15/07/2023

Christian Schäfer has resigned from his role as Brazil manager just 363 days after taking the post. The news comes one week after he guided Brazil to their first Copa América title in sixteen years. Schäfer is expected to travel back to Europe in search of a new job at one of the leading clubs in football.

Christian, you had a wonderful time as Brazil manager. Fourteen games player, fourteen wins. On top of that, you won the Copa América. How can you describe your time as Brazil manager?

Christian Schäfer: "It has been a great honour to lead football's greatest ever nation on to the pitch as many times as I have. The players were fantastic and the fans were very supportive. We played some great football and recorded some brilliant moments. Winning the Copa América was, of course, the highlight of an amazing year and leave Brazil with many fond memories."

When you joined the Brazil set-up, they were ranked seventh in the FIFA World Rankings. You now leave Brazil with them first. What do you make of this rise and do you predict Brazil to hold their place?

Christian Schäfer: "Each and every single player contributed to the rise through the rankings and they can feel proud to be a part of what is now officially the best footballing nation in the world. Each step towards this was made as a unit and I predict Brazil to stay as the world's top nation, as long as the players continue to play as a unit. They must stick together and work hard for each other, but I have faith in them to do so."


What are your plans for now?

Christian Schäfer: "Well I think it is time for a holiday. I have not had so much rest recently with the Copa América taking up most of my time, but I think I can afford to take some time off now. I will return to Europe and visit my home town, Dresden. Maybe I will go to Paris or Milan or Madrid for some time, who knows. But for now, I can put my mind to rest and I have nothing to worry about."

Do you plan to continue managing on the international scene, or will you return to club football in the future?

Christian Schäfer: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as an international manager but I think that my next job will have to be with a club. I wish to return to being involved in the day-to-day running of a club, competing in a league and cup competitions, and maybe even battle for the Champions League again. Wherever my next job will be, I wish to manage a European club once more. Hopefully I get the opportunity to do so."

Do you have a final message for the Brazil fans?

Christian Schäfer: "I wish to say thank you to the people of Brazil for a wonderful year. You showed great patience and hospitality towards me during the early months, and gave us fantastic support and encouragement during the Copa América. I love Brazil and I very much feel at home here in Rio. I wish the best of luck to the country for the future and I hope that the next manager will bring similar moments to rejoice!"




Previous Update: #45 - Copa América 2023 Awards Ceremony
Next Update: #47 - Rafa Benítez Retires From Management
Didn't see this coming, thought you'd at least see it through to the next world cup but should be interesting to see where you end up next! Bayern or Dortmund would be lucky to have you!
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:O I'm with mgriff, did not see that coming!
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I am quite interested to see where you go from here!
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Well that was a shock..
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Good luck in your future endeavors
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Justice's avatar Group Justice
8 yearsEdited

Rafa Benítez Retires From Management


Legendary Manager Rafa Benítez Calls Time On A Fruitful Thirty-Year Career

17/07/2023

Rafa Benítez today brought his career as a football manager to an end, after thirty years of being involved in the occupation. The Madrid-born Spaniard had just completed a UEFA Champions League winning campaign with Real Madrid, after eight years in charge of Los Blancos. Benítez goes down in the annals of football history as one of the sport's most successful managers.


Rafa Benítez succeeded Carlo Ancelotti as manager of Real Madrid in June 2015. In his first season in charge of his childhood club, Rafa led Real to a La Liga and Champions League double. The 2016/2017 season saw Rafa and Real lift the Copa del Ray, Spanish Super Cup, Club World Cup and come second in the league. The following season, Real Madrid regained the league title, as well as winning the Spanish Super Cup once more. Benitez's Real Madrid would go on to win the league title again in 2019 and once again in 2022, and the Copa del Ray in 2020. In his final season in charge of Real Madrid, Benítez lifted the UEFA Champions League once more. In total, Rafa won two UEFA Champions Leagues, four Liga BBVAs, one FIFA Club World Cup, two Copa del Rays and five Spanish Super Cups under Rafa Benítez in an eight year spell. He will certainly go down in history as a Real Madrid legend.

Benítez was well known for being a defensive manager. He set up his tactics to prevent the opposition creating chances, while being dangerous on the counter attack. Benítez' meticulous preparation and composed focus led to former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard describing him as "cold". One thing that was never under any doubt, however, was his love for the game, and especially for Real Madrid.


Rafa Benítez:
"The time has come for me to hang up my suit and tie and make way for a new generation of football managers. It is time for Real Madrid to embrace the future. It is time for somebody else to take up the mantle and to lead the time. My time in the sun has come to an end. Officially, I am no longer a football manager.

I've been fortunate enough to manage a number of top teams throughout my career as a manager, especially my beloved Real Madrid. I have had many adventures and experienced may wonders throughout my time. When I began managing in 1993, thirty years ago, I never anticipated to come this far. Yet, from managing Real Madrid Castilla, through a host of other teams, I have made it to my dream job; Real Madrid.

Not many managers get the opportunity to fight for the Champions League, and I consider myself blessed to have won the competition three times. Winning promotion to La Liga with both Extremadura and Tenerife were brilliant learning opportunities for myself, while my experiences with Valencia and Chelsea were enjoyable ones. At Inter Milan and Napoli, I had the opportunity to compete in the 'League Of Managers', where managerial suave wins matches, and not players.

At Liverpool, I felt at home. My time there was more than enjoyable and, to this day, I still feel like a part of the Anfield family. The hallowed ground, the Kop End, the European atmosphere; it was all a gift from heaven. I will never forget my time there and I am more than grateful to those who gave me the chance to work there.

Along the way, I have had to learn some important lessons the hard way. You cannot take anything for granted as a football manager, and there will always be some hard knocks along the way. I have had some incredible opponents in my time, specifically Sir Alex Ferguson and José Mourinho, and they have made me stronger as a manager. They bent me in to shape, made me the manager I needed to be. They gave me the arsenal required to be manager of Real Madrid.

Coming home to Madrid was a surreal moment. For me, it was always going to be the highest point in my career. I would like to say that my time here at Real Madrid was a very successful one. We won two Champions League titles on the way and we have built some fantastic squads. For this I must thank Florentino Pérez, the president of Real Madrid at the time of my arrival. He granted me the opportunity to make history here and I would like to think that I have done so.

I would like to thank everybody at the football club for their help and hospitality over the years, and I wish the very best of luck to Real Madrid and their next managers for the coming years. Hala Madrid!"




Previous Update: #46 - Christian Schäfer Calls Time On Brazil Spell
Next Update: #48 - Schäfer Set For Santiago Bernabéu?
That was a really good and detailed write up. I am going to guess your next stop is Real??
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Well there ya go... knew it would be there based on the figures you were talking about in chat!
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Great little update and enjoy retirement Rafa you were a brilliant servant to the game! Wondering if Christian Schafer can top his stats at Real Madrid though :P
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Justice's avatar Group Justice
8 yearsEdited

Schäfer Set For Santiago Bernabéu?


Christian Schäfer Is Among Main Contenders To Succeed Rafa As RM Manager

20/07/2023

Days after Rafa Benítez announced his retirement from Real Madrid, and from football management as a whole, Real Madrid fans have been clamouring for news on his successor. Real Madrid chairman Emilio Butragueño has let no word slip of his shortlist of managers, but many football experts are expecting German Christian Schäfer to take the helm at the Santiago Bernabéu, having recently departed from his role as manager of newly-crowned Copa América champions Brazil.

Christian Schäfer has enjoyed plenty of success in recent seasons at Dynamo Dresden and at Brazil. During his time with the German club, Der Professor earned two back-to-back promotions from the third division of Germany. In his third season in the Bundesliga, Dynamo were crowned champions, and went on to win three-in-a-row. The season of Dresden's third Bundesliga victory proved to be Schäfer's last at the club, and he marked his final game in charge with a win in the UEFA Champions League final against domestic rivals FC Schalke 04.

In search of a new challenge, Schäfer left the industrious of land of Germany to take the reigns of the Brazilian national team. The Seleção had just endured a disappointing World Cup 2022 campaign and were bereft of confidence. During his one year with Brazil, Schäfer lead his side to the Copa América 2023 title, the country's first major trophy in 16 years. Over the course of Schäfer's one year spell at Brazil, he was in charge of the Seleção for fourteen games, winning all fourteen.

Christian Schäfer has shown a high amount of tactical flexibility over the course of his eight years as a manager to date, using a variety of different team shapes and game-plans to defeat his opponents. At Dynamo Dresden, Schäfer's team-shapes were predominantly of a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, while Der Professor preferred shapes with just three defenders during his time at Brazil.

Despite showing a high amount of tactical flexibility, one key aspect lines Schäfer's tactical approach; his desire to keep a strong defensive core. With Schäfer in charge, Brazil conceded just seven goals in fourteen games. Throughout his entire career, Schäfer's teams have played a total of 312 games, conceding just 272 times. With limited resources available to build a squad at Dynamo Dresden, this figure is certainly an impressive one.

Should Schäfer become the new Real Madrid manager, he would have the opportunity to manage a defensc which already includes Raphaël Varane (DC, 106 France caps), Leonel Cardozo (DC, 30 Argentina caps), Alessandro Florenzi (DR, 90 Italy caps) and Juan Bernat (DL, 26 Spain caps). With the financial power available at Real Madrid, Christian Schäfer would certainly be able to build a defence capable of withstanding the best of attacks.

Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas has expressed his desire to see Christian Schäfer become Real Madrid's new manager, while he would also be welcome to the possibility of José Mourinho (Chelsea manager) returning, with Pep Guardiola (Paris Saint-Germain manager) and Diego Simeone (Manchester City) also among his favourites to take charge.

Iker Casillas:
"I would love to see Christian Schäfer take charge at Real Madrid. He's a young and exciting manager with plenty of title-winning experience under his belt already. He knows how to build a team with defensive strength and from his time at Brazil, he has shown he can faze older players out to bring in new, exciting talent. I firmly believe that he could be the one to take Real Madrid to a new level of dominance, and to bring a new age of glory to the club.

The squad at Real Madrid is an aging one, with a number of players reaching the end of their careers. Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos, James Rodríguez and Alessandro Florenzi are all beyond their best years and the new manager will have to begin preparing for life without them. It will be all about signing the right players to ensure that the future of Real Madrid is a bright one.

If Christian Schäfer isn't a possibility, then I would be more than happy to see José Mourinho return to the club. His success at Real Madrid previously was undoubted, while has he masterminded a spell of domestic dominance at Chelsea since leaving Madrid for London in 2013. Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone would be my other preferred choices. Both have contrasting managerial styles but they are fantastic squad managers and would certainly get the best out of the players available to them."


Would Cristiano Ronaldo Welcome Christian Schäfer?

One player Christian Schäfer would have to handle with care, should he take charge, is club captain Cristiano Ronaldo. Now thirty-eight years old, Ronaldo has vowed to hang up his boots after one final season in the white of Real Madrid. Ronaldo's final season will be his fifteenth at Real Madrid, and his twenty-second in total. Schäfer would have to balance supplying game time for Ronaldo along with keeping him fresh and able to compete in the big games.

Cristiano is certain to have some influence over the club's decision regarding their next manager, and his previous relationship with José Mourinho would point towards the current Chelsea manager taking the reigns at Madrid for a second time. However, Schäfer's immediate availability and current lack of employment makes him the bookies' favourite to succeed Rafa Benítez with odds as short as 5/4. Who will become Real Madrid's next manager? Will it be Schäfer, or will Mourinho return for a second round in the ring?

Real Madrid's Next Manager Odds:
Christian Schäfer: 5/4
José Mourinho: 11/4
Pep Guardiola: 9/2
Diego Simeone: 7/1
Frank de Boer: 11/1
Jürgen Klopp:16/1



Previous Update: #47 - Rafa Benítez Retires From Management
Next Update: #49 - Hala Madrid!
I hope you get them. Would be interesting to see Real in the future
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