Tim Görner to leave as FSV Frankfurt searches for successor; Victor Kleinhenz emerges as leading candidate
Tim Görner will leave his post as FSV Frankfurt coach at the end of the season, and Victor Kleinhenz has been named a leading candidate amid managerial uncertainty at regional rivals Kickers Offenbach.
FSV Frankfurt coach Tim Görner confirmed he will step down at season’s end after a three-year spell that began in March 2022. The decision ends a tenure during which Görner became one of Germany’s youngest coaches and earned his UEFA Pro Licence in January 2025. The announcement comes after a 3-3 Hessen derby with Kickers Offenbach that highlighted contrasting managerial situations between the two clubs.
Tim Görner to step down after three seasons
Görner took over the FSV first team in March 2022 and will depart after guiding the club through roughly 160 competitive matches. He secured his UEFA Pro Licence in January 2025, marking a rapid rise in the coaching ranks, and has said he wants to take the “next step” in his career. The Bornheimer Hang club will therefore begin a planned transition rather than respond to a mid-season dismissal.
Club expects a planned succession process this summer
FSV Frankfurt’s leadership has indicated a summer search for a new head coach to replace Görner, giving the club time to vet candidates and set preparations for the next season. Reports in recent weeks floated several names, including former pros such as Aytac Sulu and Sascha Mölders, though both now appear unlikely to take the post. The club’s approach looks set on finding a coach with regional experience and a record of promoting teams under constrained budgets.
Victor Kleinhenz emerges as the frontrunner
Victor Kleinhenz, 34, has been linked strongly to the vacancy after leading Schweinfurt 05 to promotion to the 3. Liga in 2025. Kleinhenz was released by Schweinfurt in mid-February despite enjoying promotion success, and his contract had been extended initially through July 1, 2027, demonstrating the club’s earlier confidence. His profile — a relatively young coach with recent promotion experience and experience across Regionalliga and youth setups — fits the brief for a club seeking immediate stability and upward momentum.
Kickers Offenbach draw highlights differing managerial fortunes
The 3-3 draw between Kickers Offenbach and FSV on Wednesday illuminated the clubs’ divergent futures; Offenbach came back to level the match after trailing 3-1, yet the outcome did not resolve the OFC’s own internal questions. Offenbach has kept Mark Zimmermann in place on a short-term basis since mid-March, effectively on a trial to the end of the season, and the club has not publicly decided whether to extend him beyond the current campaign. That contrasts with FSV’s clear timetable for a coaching change.
Görner’s next destination remains uncertain amid outside interest
While Görner has expressed a desire to progress, his immediate destination is not confirmed and the coach may be weighing options. One Regional league club, SV Sandhausen, has been mentioned as showing interest, but no formal appointment has been announced. Görner’s profile — youth, a UEFA Pro Licence, and a multi-year record in the Regionalliga — makes him an attractive candidate for clubs aiming to blend progressive coaching methods with fiscal discipline.
What a coaching change could mean for FSV Frankfurt
A new FSV Frankfurt coach could trigger a wider sporting reset at the Bornheimer Hang, from tactical identity to squad adjustments and recruitment priorities. If Kleinhenz or a similar candidate is appointed, the club would likely prioritize consolidation and targeted signings rather than a wholesale rebuild. The timing of the hire will be crucial for preseason planning, youth integration and maintaining momentum among players who rallied under Görner this season.
The coming weeks are likely to bring greater clarity as FSV Frankfurt accelerates its recruitment for a successor and Offenbach decides whether to convert a short-term trial into a longer-term commitment. Clubs, fans and players will watch closely for formal announcements ahead of the summer transfer window and the start of preseason training.
