Roger Schmidt

Roger Schmidt (German pronunciation: [ˈʁoːɡɐ ˈʃmɪt];^[2] born 13 March 1967) is a German professional football manager and former player.

Roger Schmidt

Schmidt in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth	(1967-03-13) 13 March 1967 (age 58)[1]
Place of birth	Kierspe, West Germany
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Benfica (head coach)
Youth career
0000–1985	Kiersper SC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1986–1987	RW Lüdenscheid
1988–1990	TuS Plettenberg
1990–1995	TuS Paderborn-Neuhaus
1995–2002	SC Verl	208	(54)
2002–2003	SC Paderborn 07	25	(2)
2003–2004	SV Lippstadt 08	26	(4)
2004–2005	Delbrücker SC
Managerial career
2004–2007	Delbrücker SC
2007–2010	SC Preußen Münster
2011–2012	SC Paderborn 07
2012–2014	Red Bull Salzburg
2014–2017	Bayer Leverkusen
2017–2019	Beijing Guoan
2020–2022	PSV
2022–	Benfica
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Schmidt was an engineer before he was a footballer.^[3] As player he played for SC Verl and SC Paderborn as a midfielder.

Manager

He started his career as a manager with Delbrücker SC,^[4] went on to Preußen Münster and then to Paderborn 07.^[5]

"Schmidt must stay"-Solidarity of the fan scene

He then went to FC Red Bull Salzburg in the Bundesliga, the top level league in Austrian football. Although the team gained goal and point record they finished only second. Being in danger to lose his job a lot of the fans declared their solidarity.

In 2014, he transferred to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.^[6] In June 2017 Schmidt joined Chinese Super League Beijing Sinobo Guoan.^[7] On 31 July 2019, he was sacked by Beijing Sinobo Guoan. On 11 March 2020 he became new manager of PSV Eindhoven.^[8] On 18 May 2022 he became coach of Benfica Lissabon^[9] In his first season in Portugal, he led Benfica to their 38th championship.