Schalke 04’s season has been a nightmare so far, with the once-proud Bundesliga team currently in the heat of a relegation battle which could see them drop down to Germany’s second division for the first time in 30 years.

However, on Saturday, it was American teenager Matthew Hoppe who lifted their spirits and hopes, delivering his team its first win of the season with a hat trick.

Schalke hosted Hoffenheim on Saturday with the team in last place and seven points from potential safety, immersed in the second-longest winless streak in the history of the league.

Hoppe’s hat-trick, his first three goals in his fifth career start, led them to an easy victory that allowed fans’ hopes to begin to spark after a nightmare start to the year.

The California native’s first goal was a chipped shot over the keeper that put his team in front 1-0 just before the half.

Hoppe broke past the defense in the 57th minute to score again for his second goal, and then completed the hat trick just six minutes later with another chip to put the game out of reach at 3-0.

The 19-year-old player is the third American to ever complete a hat trick in Europe’s top five leagues after Christian Pulisic accomplished the feat with Chelsea last season and Clint Dempsey did so with Fulham in 2012.

Hoppe and Schalke will look to keep up the good momentum as they travel to Eintracht Frankfurt next weekend.

The post Matthew Hoppe’s Hat Trick Propels Schalke 04 to First Win of Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Bundesliga side Schalke 04 announced on Sunday that the club fired their manager David Wagner following two consecutive losses with a 1-11 differential to start the new season.

Wagner was on the hot seat long before these two defeats, considering the former USMNT striker didn’t record a single league win since January. Schalke’s winless streak is currently at 18 games. 

“We hoped that we could turn things around. Unfortunately, the first two matches did not produce the necessary performances and results,” said Schalke’s sports director Jochen Schneider in a statement announcing Wagner’s dismissal. “Despite the disappointing results, this decision was anything but easy for us.”

David Wagner arrived at Schalke in May 2019, following a successful spell in England with Huddersfield Town. He enjoyed a great start in Germany, having the club at No.3 in Bundesliga midway through the 2019/20 season.

However, an unexplainable turn in the form in 2020 saw Schalke concede 48 goals and collect only six points from there. The club finished the past season at No. 12.

According to reports from Germany, Schalke 04 is now expected to turn to former RB Leipzig manager and sporting director Ralf Rangnick. This would be Ragninck’s third spell at the club’s helm, as he managed Schalke between 2004 and 2005, and then again in 2011.

The post Ex-USMNT Striker David Wagner Fired as Schalke 04’s Manager appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Schalke 04’s season has been a nightmare so far, with the once-proud Bundesliga team currently in the heat of a relegation battle which could see them drop down to Germany’s second division for the first time in 30 years.

However, on Saturday, it was American teenager Matthew Hoppe who lifted their spirits and hopes, delivering his team its first win of the season with a hat trick.

Schalke hosted Hoffenheim on Saturday with the team in last place and seven points from potential safety, immersed in the second-longest winless streak in the history of the league.

Hoppe’s hat-trick, his first three goals in his fifth career start, led them to an easy victory that allowed fans’ hopes to begin to spark after a nightmare start to the year.

The California native’s first goal was a chipped shot over the keeper that put his team in front 1-0 just before the half.

Hoppe broke past the defense in the 57th minute to score again for his second goal, and then completed the hat trick just six minutes later with another chip to put the game out of reach at 3-0.

The 19-year-old player is the third American to ever complete a hat trick in Europe’s top five leagues after Christian Pulisic accomplished the feat with Chelsea last season and Clint Dempsey did so with Fulham in 2012.

Hoppe and Schalke will look to keep up the good momentum as they travel to Eintracht Frankfurt next weekend.

The post Matthew Hoppe’s Hat Trick Propels Schalke 04 to First Win of Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Bundesliga side Schalke 04 announced on Sunday that the club fired their manager David Wagner following two consecutive losses with a 1-11 differential to start the new season.

Wagner was on the hot seat long before these two defeats, considering the former USMNT striker didn’t record a single league win since January. Schalke’s winless streak is currently at 18 games. 

“We hoped that we could turn things around. Unfortunately, the first two matches did not produce the necessary performances and results,” said Schalke’s sports director Jochen Schneider in a statement announcing Wagner’s dismissal. “Despite the disappointing results, this decision was anything but easy for us.”

David Wagner arrived at Schalke in May 2019, following a successful spell in England with Huddersfield Town. He enjoyed a great start in Germany, having the club at No.3 in Bundesliga midway through the 2019/20 season.

However, an unexplainable turn in the form in 2020 saw Schalke concede 48 goals and collect only six points from there. The club finished the past season at No. 12.

According to reports from Germany, Schalke 04 is now expected to turn to former RB Leipzig manager and sporting director Ralf Rangnick. This would be Ragninck’s third spell at the club’s helm, as he managed Schalke between 2004 and 2005, and then again in 2011.

The post Ex-USMNT Striker David Wagner Fired as Schalke 04’s Manager appeared first on SportzBonanza.