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Saarbrücken Replaces Luginger, Appoints Giannikis as Coach and Thiele as Sporting Director

The overhaul follows a 16‑game winless run that has left the club one point above relegation.

Overview

  • Argirios Giannikis takes charge with immediate effect, becoming Saarbrücken’s third coach of the season after Alois Schwartz and the suspended Jürgen Luginger.
  • His first match is scheduled for Saturday at home to VfB Stuttgart II, with 15 league fixtures remaining to secure survival.
  • Jürgen Luginger, in post since late November, earned four points in eight games and has been placed on leave pending further talks, according to supervisory board chair Daniel Hager.
  • Markus Thiele is introduced as full-time sporting director as part of a January-approved plan to install three executive board members, with finance/strategy and marketing/sales to follow.
  • The team is 16th with 24 points from 23 matches and winless in 16 league games, as Giannikis targets safety and Thiele emphasizes clearer structures and decisive squad planning.