Markus Anfang takes over from Daniel Thioune at Fortuna Düsseldorf

Fortuna Düsseldorf have announced that coach Markus Anfang has arrived at the club to take up first-team duties after removing Daniel Thioune from his post.

Thioune was let go from his position following Friday's 3-2 loss at home to Nuremberg, Fortuna's fourth reverse in the second tier so far this term. 

A club statement read, "After extensive discussions with all stakeholders, the club's board has concluded that a new impetus is needed."

Anfang enjoyed two spells at Fortuna as a player. - Uwe Kraft via www.imago-images.de

For that reason, the former Fortuna midfielder and ex-Kaiserslautern coach Anfang has been brought in. The 51-year-old made 84 appearances for F95 during two spells at the club while he has developed a host of coaching experience since hanging up his boots in 2010. 

"With Markus Anfang, we have chosen an excellent Bundesliga 2 expert who has already demonstrated his ability to lead teams successfully," Fortuna's board member for sport and communications, Klaus Allofs, said. 

"We would like to take this opportunity to expressly thank Daniel Thioune for his work," the club official continued. "He took over the club in February 2022 in a difficult situation and led it to the brink of the Bundesliga and the semi-finals of the DFB Cup in 2024.

"He also proved to be an outstanding ambassador for the club. He is always welcome at Fortuna." 

Fortuna's new coach will begin preparing for October 17th's meeting with Eintracht Braunschweig. - IMAGO/David Inderlied

Anfang's first game in charge at Fortuna will be a home fixture against Eintracht Braunschweig on 17 October.  

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