Babbel going back to school

Saturday, 06 June 09, 03:31 PM · Comments (0)

While his players are either on holiday, scoring goals in international matches, or rehabing a bad knee, VfB Stuttgart manager Markus Babbel has hit the books and has gone back to school. Why? Easy! He has to go back to get his full coaching license at the at the Hennes-Weißweiler-Academy in Cologne. Babbel, who is from Munich has been working with 23 others including Christian Ziege and Dirk Lottner.

The course is being led by former Aalen, Pfullendorf and Reutlingen trainer Frank Wormuth. During his time on the course, the VfB team boss will be staying at a local hotel and then travelling between Stuttgart and Cologne by train (as shown to the left). As part of the training, a ten week internship is necessary, which the European Champion from 1996 will be able to serve at VfB Stuttgart. During his absence, training for the VfB first team will be taken by Rainer Widmayer and new coach Alexander Zorniger, who has come from Normannia Gmünd.

"I'm completely convinced that our players are motivated enough themselves that it won't make any difference if I am absent from training on one or two days of the week," explained Babbel on the effect of his double role as trainer and student.

Photos! :D