YesOnce again, a Dane named Bo will save FSV Mainz 05. The Bundesliga football club, which is in serious danger of relegation, relies on Bo Henriksen, practically unknown in our country, in the fight to remain in the league. The penultimate team presented this Tuesday the new coach as successor to the dismissed one Jan Siewert. Before Siewert, Henriksen's compatriot Bo Svensson saved Rheinhessen from relegation and then worked successfully for a long time at FSV.
“We have carefully analyzed our current situation and analyzed what type of coach and what football approach suits us in this difficult sporting situation,” said the Mainz sporting director. Christian Heidel: “This led us to Bo Henriksen, a coach who has managed repeatedly throughout his career and in very different circumstances to build teams and, in doing so, make them play a style of football that is equally pragmatic, but also brave and, ultimately successful.”
Henriksen, 49, began his coaching career in Denmark at lower-class clubs. In the 2021/2022 season he finished second in the Danish championship and cup winner with FC Midtjylland. In October 2022, Henriksen took over FC Zurich, then the previous year's Swiss champion, in last place in the Super League. He ensured the team remained in the league and even took them back to the top of the table. Zurich is currently in third place. However, Henriksen announced last week that he would not renew his contract, which expires at the end of the season.
Now Henriksen left Zurich early and signed a contract with FSV until 2026. The Mainz team did not provide any information about the payment of a possible transfer fee. Heidel is counting on the new coach to adapt quickly. “Bo Henriksen is a very emotional, open and headstrong character who radiates incredibly positive energy and will fit in very well at Mainz 05,” the board said.
Henriksen, who will be presented at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, should avoid the second relegation in the club's history after 2007. Svensson managed to do so in 2021 despite an equally desperate situation. The new coach will make his debut on Saturday at home against FC Augsburg (15:30/Sky).
“Unfortunately, we now consider the change of coach a necessary step in order to achieve positive change,” Heidel explained after Siewert's elimination. Following Svensson's resignation, Siewert did not assume responsibility for Rheinhessen until early November. In his first match, Siewert achieved his first victory of the season, but it would be his only victory so far. He played in the next eleven games Mainz six draws and five losses. The difference with the relegation zone is four points and the Savings Bank is already nine points.