SOME things get lost in translation. Back in June of last year, Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung told their readers that Barnsley were “the fifth-richest club in England,” which would have made for welcome news for Reds fans.
Irrespective of that small piece of misinformation, local reporters and fans of Hannover 96 are rightly proud that one of their own is doing so well in League One at the moment. Daniel Stendel’s successful start to his tenure at Oakwell has not been lost on the people in Lower Saxony.
The 44-year-old was very surprised to get the call from Barnsley but perhaps he shouldn’t have been. Chief Executive Gauthier Ganaye had obviously noticed that Stendel had created a wave of euphoria during his eleven months with 96 in Bundesliga 2, combining a dynamic pressing and gegenpressing game with first-class man-management.
Really like the way Daniel Stendel has Barnsley playing so confident on the ball spread it around very well. Pinnock and Lindsay so good from playing out from the back very impressive #barnsleyfc
— Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) March 15, 2019
Stendel lost his job two months before Hannover secured their return back to the top flight in 2017 but that didn’t reflect badly on him, only on the judgement of club boss Martin Kind who had panicked after the team had momentarily dropped out of the promotion places.
“I’m certain Hannover would have gone back up with me in charge, too,” Stendel told transfermarkt.de. He had found out about his dismissal when Kind discussed potential successors on local television. Barnsley, advised by Billy “Moneyball” Beane, were obviously prepared to look at the underlying performance numbers rather than the mere results – unlike Kind.
Stendel started his new job just in time to see Joachim Löw’s team crash out of the World Cup in Russia in embarrassing fashion in a Barnsley city-centre pub. “I expected to be subjected to lots of banter but the players were very good, I guess they respected me too much as their manager. I bought them a round of beers to thank them for their kindness,” the former Hannover and St. Pauli player said in an interview with sportbuzzer.de.
This anecdote tells you a lot about Stendel. There’s little doubt that he can set up a team to disrupt opponents and maximise opportunities in transition – he was introduced to that blueprint by legendary coach Ralf Rangnick at Hannover from 2001 to 2004, playing alongside a teenage Per Mertesacker – but he’s arguable even better at creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and fun without which no tactical system can properly function.
That Tykes TV video with Daniel Stendel and Paul Conway is incredible. Great to have some more detail on the transfer policy and the club's interaction with the fans as well as some ideas the owners have for the club. We're only looking forwards. You Reds ⚪ #BarnsleyFC
— Ryan Ibbo (@ibbobfcryan) March 14, 2019
One of his first measures after taking over at Hannover when they were about to get relegated from the Bundesliga in 2016 was to bring in some light-hearted games in training to lift the mood. At Barnsley, he’s worked very hard at making the team into a unit as well, with plenty of extra-extra-curricular activities that make for an enjoyable change from the sheer endless array of games.
Stendel was initially worried that his English might not be good enough to really connect with his players. A a child of the former GDR, he had studied Russian in school. But after leaving his team talks to his assistants in the first few weeks, he’s now become confident enough to address them himself, even if some sentences come across a little mangled.
“It’s wish time,” he told reporters after the 1-1 draw with Walsall. They understood what he meant, as do his players, evidently. Stendel’s irrepressible spirit and rapport with his players is too strong to get lost in translation.
