Despite agreeing to a three-year contract with FC Augsburg in April, Markus Weinzierl has departed to take over as manager of FC Schalke 04, the latter club announced Thursday.
The 41-year-old Straubing native replaces Andre Breitenreiter, who parted ways with Schalke after last season's fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga. Weinzierl is the first managerial appointment under new sporting director Christian Heidel.
Weinzierl assumed the Augsburg helm in 2012, and after a stuttering start oversaw some distinct improvement, notably beating Bavarian rival Bayern Munich in 2014. The fifth-place finish in 2014-15 was the best in club history, and Weinzierl then steered Augsburg to a Round of 32 exit to Liverpool in the 2015-16 Europa League.
