Daniel Stendel hungry for his next challenge

A force of nature and a coach who metaphorically kicks every ball on the touchline, the former Barnsley and Hearts head coach is suitably refreshed and ready for a new challenge.

Today it is the first anniversary of his departure from Oakwell. In terms of his next destination, he is open-minded as to whether that is in the UK or on the continent.

At 46, he firmly believes that his peak years are still ahead of him.

Speaking exclusively to The Yorkshire Post, Stendel said: “Even without spectators, I realize that I am eager to return – but the project and people also need to fit to me and my philosophy.

“I think that the British way of how to “treat and feel” football – not only on the pitch, but also in the respective community – is very close to what I expect from it.

“Football-wise, the intention to act offensively with physically strong players and to always play with high risk with the intention to win the game instead of avoid losing is very close to my interpretation of football. That is why I would love to come back and train an English team.

“But I am also open to work in Germany or other countries.

“When I left Edinburgh in March, I was sure to go back there and continue my job. That is why I was not looking for anything else, there was just no need.

“Now, since it is clear that the SPFL did not allow Hearts to continue in the Premiership, we are obviously observing the market more intensively because I want to return as soon as possible. I am hungry for a new project.

“It is a pretty interesting time. Because of Covid, it is pretty restricted to watch live matches, training or to travel through Europe to watch other leagues and clubs.

“I try to see as many games as possible on TV in the German and English leagues. Mentally, I don’t feel that I needed time to recover. Family-wise, of course, that was the nice part of it after being abroad for a couple of years. I have had some more time with my family, which was great.”

Despite the manner of his departures from Tynecastle and Oakwell, it has not diminished his love affair with football in Britain, quite the opposite in fact.

For Stendel – who had a clause in his contract at Hearts allowing either him or the club to terminate the agreement in the event of relegation – it is the culture of football here which makes it special and something which has made a discernible impact on him.

The German, who cites his compatriots Jurgen Klopp, Felix Magath and Ralf Rangnick as his chief coaching influences, continued: “I think British football is more intense and more physical. Also, the referees act differently. I like it a lot.

“They give the game more freedom and space and let the game play and don’t interfere, like in Germany.

“This makes the football more attractive while fair play is still in the mind of the players.

“The focus is more on how to be better than the opponent without trying to get easy free-kicks or penalties. The focus was more on the game itself.

“I can also feel that football in England is really more than just the match on the weekend, it is part of the culture – and that refers to the players and also to the local people.

“That leads to a more intense relationship between the local people and their local club.

“That was really impressive for me to see and I enjoyed all that. Because this is the reason why we all once started to love this game. I think it made me a more complete manager.”

Despite his abrupt exit from Barnsley, his time at Oakwell will be something he will always cherish – with his ‘man-of-the-people’ persona crystallised when he had a farewell drink with supporters in a town-centre bar following his departure last October.

Harbouring no bitterness at leaving the club, Stendel commented: “It was a special time for me as a manager and as a person, not only because it was my first period as a manager abroad.

“I enjoyed working with that young and hungry team a lot. I also appreciated that the club is so important for the local people and I think that is the reason that made it so special.

“The supporters made it easy for me and for the players.

“Because we were able to clinch promotion, that made the supporters happy. My stay in Barnsley will remain a remarkable one for me. I still feel honoured that I was able to work for that club.

“I think the supporters realized that for me, football is not a game only for the professional football players or the football business – for me, it is the game for the people, for everybody and where everybody is invited to be part of it.

“I think we must never lose the relationship and the link to the local people, the local fans that support their team that intensively.”

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Thank you, James Mitchinson. Editor.