Barnsley manager appointment ‘imminent’ – clear favourite for the job

A Barnsley manager appointment is said to be ‘imminent’ – with there being a clear favourite for the job at Oakwell ahead of the new season.

The Tykes were different class in the campaign just gone from the 2019/20 side that nearly ended up being relegated back to League One.

Barnsley owed their shock turn in fortune to the coach that is Valerian Ismael who was recruited by the Tykes in October last year after he’d left Austrian’s LASK in July.

Now it’s Barnsley who have found themselves looking for a new manager after Ismael joined Championship newcomers West Bromwich Albion.

The Baggies spotted just how impressive Ismael performed last season and got their man following a number of U-turns, twists and rejections.

Barnsley are a good proposition and are expected to be right up there again in 2021/22 with the vacancy attracting some decent names.

However, it would see that TSV Hartberg manager Markus Schopp could be on his way in if credible reports and betting is anything to go by.

Schopp has been in charge of the Austrian side since 2018 after being appointed from his assistant roll at SKN St. Pölten.

Austrian source Kleine Zeitung say that Schopp’s time over there could be about to come to an end, stating that despite a recent extension to his contract, Hartberg “will in all probability lose” Schopp. They add he is “expected to sign” for Barnsley “in the next few days.”

Kleine Zeitung confirm that 47 year old is “at the top of Barnsley’s wish list” and that his “departure is imminent.”

Reliable journalist Alan Nixon has also responded to fans’ queries on the job and he has backed this up ‘favourite for a reason’.

He will no doubt be in charge for his current club’s away friendly against Weiz on Saturday, and then wave goodbye.

ABOUT THE POTENTIAL NEW MAN

He last played for New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer (USA) and on a loan from its sister football club Red Bull Salzburg (Austria).

Schopp played for Sturm Graz and Red Bull Salzburg (Austria), as well as Hamburger SV (Germany) and Brescia Calcio (Italy) before he then retired from football in December 2007 due to chronic back problems.

As a midfielder between 1991 and 2007, he scored 42 times in 364 games, and he also netted six times in 56 games for the Austria national team.

He made his debut for Austria in an August 1995 European Championship qualifying match against Latvia and was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. His final international was an October 2005 World Cup qualifying match against Northern Ireland.

1991–1996 – SK Sturm Graz – 102 games (10 goals)
1996–1998 – Hamburger SV – 40 games (3 goals)
1998–2001 – SK Sturm Graz – 101 games (20 goals)
2001–2005 – Brescia Calcio – 80 games (3 goals)
2005–2006 – FC Red Bull Salzburg – 31 games (6 goals)
2006–2007 → New York Red Bulls (loan) – 10 games (0 goals)
Total – 364 games (42 goals)

National team
1995–2005 – Austria – 56 games (6 goals)

Teams managed
2012 – Sturm Graz II
2013 – Sturm Graz (caretaker)
2013–2017 – Sturm Graz II
2017–2018 – St. Pölten (assistant/analyst)
2018– TSV Hartberg

ABOUT HARTBERG AND THEIR RISE:

The club was founded on 29 April 1946. They finished in 7th position in the 2007–2008 season while playing in the Third level Regionalliga. On the last day of the 2008–09 season, TSV Hartberg finished in first position of the Austrian Regionalliga East (third division). They won the eastern title and gained promotion to the 2009–10 Second Division. In the 2010–11 season they finished at 10th and bottom position but survived by winning the relegation play-off, and in the 2014–15 season they were relegated to the third division for finishing at the same bottom position.

TSV Hartberg were promoted to Second Division after winning the 2016–17 Regionalliga Mitte without having to compete in promotion play-offs as no team from the Regionalliga West or Ost applied for promotion. In the 2017–18 Second Division season, TSV Hartberg finished second to be promoted to the Austrian Bundesliga for the first time in their history, following an appeal to be granted a “license to play” in First Division. In the 2019–20 Austrian Bundesliga season, TSV Hartberg finished fifth to qualify to the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase. In the second qualifying round of the tournament the team lost to Polish Piast Gliwice and was eliminated from the competition.

Check out Hartberg 2019/20 details and informative scout report on why are they performing so well, by clicking HERE.

He was placed 12/1 for the role, but now he’s placed at 1/4, with Hannes Wolf the second favourite coming in at 8/1, Chris Wilder is third with 11/1.

Fans reacted with the Barnsley manager appointment said to be ‘imminent’…

Wow, @TSV_Hartberg boss Markus Schopp looks to be Valerien Ismael’s replacement at Barnsley.

He’s done a brilliant job at the Styrian club over the last few years, taking them into Europe last season. Barnsley’s interest in Austrian football looks to continue! #inundaut https://t.co/CSgCfBcNAS

— The Other Bundesliga (@OtherBundesliga) June 25, 2021

Wouldn’t say he sits back, Hartberg’s games are very high scoring. I’d say you’re looking at an Ismael-lite kind of manager in Schopp in terms of playing style

— The Other Bundesliga (@OtherBundesliga) June 25, 2021

@Liam_Fountain: Markus Schopp hasn’t even got the job yet and I’m seeing people slagging off his tactics and style of play as if they watch Austrian Bundesliga religiously 😂😂😂 Lord give me strength

@JordanWard_: Couldn’t put this any better myself 😂

@antclare78: The Barnsley schopp? I’ll get mi coat..

@AdamGlover2: Markus Schopp Red & White Army? 🤔

@TomFHydes: Markus Schopp is looking likely the next boss at Oakwell 🔴⚪⚽️

@BFCDrinkers: Barnsley looking in the Schopp window then. Sorry.

@FlavellBrett: markus schopp it is then #barnsleyfc

@Motty2192: The Barnsley Schopp

@mattbfc93: Alexander Marchat coming in as the new number 2 to Schopp

@chrislowe1989: All the best to Schopp but I can’t help but feel underwhelmed by the upheaval of formation and tactics. A variation of the high energy 3-4-3 made sense for me. 4-2-3-1, deep laying, anti-press is very Southgate and not something that traditional appeals to Oakwell. #BarnsleyFC

@john00taylor: Tbf, the high energy 3-4-3 was not something that appealed to most at Oakwell either, was roundly slagged off on here and confused with us just ‘playing long ball football’. I liked it, but most didn’t understand it.

@lukerobbo123: Just think the 4231 leaves us trying to fit square pegs again. We’ve got Woodrow, Morris an Cole. As we are would mean Brittain moving to RW in the 3, Woodrow in the hole and Cole left. Not sure that’s any better than the current 343, 3 more big signings to change to it id reckon