Mike Büskens

Michael Büskens

Personal information
Date of birth	19 March 1968 (1968-03-19) (age 43)
Place of birth	Düsseldorf, West Germany
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Greuther Fürth
Youth career
1974–1981	Alemannia Düsseldorf
1981–1986	Fortuna Düsseldorf
1986–1987	VfL Benrath
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1987–1992	Fortuna Düsseldorf	102	(6)
1992–2000	Schalke 04	223	(13)
2000	MSV Duisburg	12	(1)
2000–2003	Schalke 04	34	(0)
2003–2004	Schalke 04 II	17	(5)
Teams managed
2002–2005	Schalke 04 II (assistant)
2005–2008	Schalke 04 II
2008	Schalke 04 (joint interim)
2008–2009	Schalke 04 (assistant)
2009	Schalke 04 (interim)
2010–	Greuther Fürth
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Michael 'Mike' Büskens (born 19 March 1968 in Düsseldorf) is a former German footballer who played as a midfielder, and the current manager of SpVgg Greuther Fürth.

During a 14-year professional career, he appeared in nearly 400 Bundesliga games, mainly representing Schalke 04 (11 years), and later also briefly managing the latter.

Playing career

Büskens began his career with his hometown team Alemannia Düsseldorf, before he moved to city giants Fortuna. After five years, he moved to VfL Benrath, returning in 1987 to Fortuna, this time as member of the professional squad, and rarely missed one top division game during his three-year spell, although ended in relegation.

In 1992, Büskens moved to FC Schalke 04, and lived the most successful years of his career. He was part of the UEFA Cup and German Cup 2001 and 2002 winning squads, and never appeared in less than 27 league games in his first seven seasons. In the European conquest of 1997, he played in 10 matches (eight complete), including both legs of the final against F.C. Internazionale Milano.

In January 2000, Büskens spent half a season at MSV Duisburg, returning to Schalke after a poor season. He continued to play for the team until 2003, splitting between the first and second squads in his last year, also being assistant manager of the latter.

Coaching career

In 2005, Büskens succeeded Gerhard Kleppinger as head coach of the second squad. On 13 April 2008, he was appointed caretaker manager of Schalke's first team, alongside another former club player, Youri Mulder, succeeding Mirko Slomka after a 1–5 away loss to SV Werder Bremen, as the team was battling for a UEFA Champions League position (eventually reaching third).^[1]

Büskens remained in charge until the end of the season, being replaced by Dutch Fred Rutten in July. However, in March 2009, the latter was fired, which led to the pair again taking over the side until the end of the season (now accompanied by another former Schalke player, Oliver Reck), being then replaced by Felix Magath,^[2] and released by the club on 23 June.^[3]

On 27 December 2009, Büskens was named head coach of SpVgg Greuther Fürth, in the second division.^[4]

References

1. ^ "Büskens to the rescue at Schalke". UEFA.com. 15 April 2008. http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ger/news/newsid=684414.html. Retrieved 21 August 2010. 
2. ^ "Magath to swap Wolfsburg for Schalke". UEFA.com. 6 May 2009. http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ger/news/newsid=827204.html. Retrieved 21 August 2010. 
3. ^ "Magath räumt auf: Büskens und Co. freigestellt [Magath steps in: Büskens and Co. released]" (in German). Transfermarkt. http://www.transfermarkt.de/de/news/28890/magath-raeumt-auf-bueskens-und-co-freigestellt.html. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "Überraschung in Fürth: Büskens macht's! [Surprise in Fürth: Büskens arrives!]" (in German). kicker. 27 December 2009. http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/2bundesliga/startseite/518909/artikel_Ueberraschung-in-Fuerth_Bueskens-macht%27s.html. Retrieved 21 August 2010. 

External links

• Michael 'Mike' Büskens at fussballdaten.de (German)
• Official website (German)

Persondata
Name	Büskens, Mike
Alternative names	Büskens, Michael
Short description	Football player and manager
Date of birth	19 March 1968
Place of birth	Düsseldorf, West Germany
Date of death
Place of death