It was nearly two years ago today (March 28th, 2009) that history was made in the
German Bundesliga, when Joe Enoch became the first American soccer player to be honored in Europe for his career contribution to the game. In his honor,
Osnabrück VFL, a Bundesliga 2 team, staged an Abschiedsspiel for Joe. It is a farewell game. Some call it a "Testimonial Match.” It is reserved for the very few honoring a player's contribution to his team.
On Monday March 21, 2011, history was again made when
Enoch was hired on as the head coach for Osnabrück. He is the first American head coach ever hired in the Bundesliga, and may be the first American head coach in Europe (if you know of someone else,
let us know where and when!).
Enoch is going to have his work cut out for him. He takes over the 2nd Division club sitting in the 16th position of the table with 25 points from a 7-6-16 record. That puts them into the relegation zone, though they would be in a playoff round with clubs from the 3 Liga.
Having just returned to the Bundesliga 2nd Division in 2010, club President Dr. Dirk Rasch is not keen on seeing his club fall back down, much less after just one season. Former coach, Karsten Baumann, was sacked after suffering a 1-3 loss at home to Alemannia Aachen. That loss combined with three previous losses in a row, was taken as a call to action.
Enoch has seven games left in the season to inspire the team to play their way up the table, and out of relegation danger. The good news is that the schedule is set for success, as they will play Bielefeld who are currently in the 18th spot with only 14 points, and Karlsruhe (15th/27pts), Ingolstadt (14th/27pts), Paderborn (13th/31pts), and Frankfurt (11th/34pts).
Not easy. Not impossible.
Enoch has led the Osnabrück U23 team to first place in the Oberliga Niedersachsen (5th Division of play) this year.
When asked why they did not go outside the club for a new manager, Sports Director Lothar Gans replied "We are in the decisive phase of the season and we need someone who knows the team, doesn't need a lot of time to learn, and can react quickly to our situation. Joe is the right man."
"I have a lot of respect for this position, and I know I carry a huge responsibility," said Enoch, who ran his first training session with the team on Monday. "But I'm willing to give everything for the task ahead of me, and I am firmly convinced that we'll win in the end."
Enoch played with Osnabrück from 1996/97 season through the 2008/09 season, and retired after the final match. During that time he established the club record for appearances with 376, and was a fan favorite playing in the defense.
In 1987, Enoch joined the San Francisco Seals youth team, then called San Francisco United Soccer Club (aka “SFUSC”), and led them a most memorable match against the Barcelona youth club in the Gothia Cup (Gothenberg, Sweden), and to wins over Nacional, the U18 Brazilian National Champions in 1989 in Brazil, the USA Cup Championship in 1990, the State, Regional and National Championship USYSA matches in 1990.
We wish Joe every success in this latest, and perhaps greatest, challenge. If his career is any indication, he has the ability to persevere and be successful. And perhaps, just perhaps, his success will help to open even more doors to Americans overseas.
Read more on Joe Enoch . . .
by Paul Sheirich
From the Toronto FC Website