Michael Wimmer is officially the new manager of Motherwell Football Club.
The 44-year-old German will begin working when his work permit has been issued.
Wimmer brings with him Ahmet Koc as his assistant manager. The pair have worked closely since 2013 at Nuremberg and Austria Vienna.
“This is a really exciting appointment for the club,” Chairman Kyrk Macmillan said.
“There was a robust and strenuous recruitment process that has been ongoing for the last three weeks that has demanded a lot from those involved and I would like to thank them for their hard work.
“Having received hundreds of applications from managers across the world, Michael was the standout candidate.
“We conducted strenuous due diligence to ensure this appointment would push the club in the correct direction.
“We used a series of measurable values that indicate how effectively potential managerial candidates benchmarked in achieving specific objectives; which we believe went to the core ethos of Motherwell Football Club.
“This, combined with speaking with a number of references and our interviews, made it very clear that not only are Michael and Ahmet driven to deliver success on the pitch, but are also individuals that share our ethos of ambition, innovation and transparency.
“We are delighted as a football club to welcome Michael and Ahmet onboard and look forward to working together.”
Wimmer began his coaching career in the academy setup at Nuremberg in 2010. He progressed through the youth ranks at the club, which included being assistant manager for the Nuremberg II side, before moving to Bundesliga side Augsburg as assistant manager in 2018.
Having helped Augsburg remain in the top flight for another season, he moved to fellow German side Stuttgart in 2019. Spending just over two years as the number two, Wimmer took the reins on an interim basis in October 2022.
Managing seven games in his caretaker spell, his first taste of first-team management would be a successful one, winning four of his seven games in charge.
During this stint as boss, he caught the eye of clubs across Europe, and in January 2023, he moved to Austria Vienna in his first permanent managerial role in senior football.
In his 16 months in charge of the Austrian outfit, he managed 57 matches, with Ahmet Koc by his side. In his first six months in charge, Wimmer guided his team to a top-six finish, ending up fifth in the standings.
They would miss out on a top-six finish by goal difference in the 23/24 season, but he would be commended for his continued improvement of young players within the side.
Departing Austria Vienna in May 2024, Wimmer has since been linked with moves to clubs in the Bundesliga and English Championship, but this move to North Lanarkshire will mark his return to the fold.
Ahmet Koc’s journey began primarily in Germany, where he developed a deep understanding of player development through his extensive experience in football academies. Notably, Koc dedicated six years of his career to the youth setup at Nuremberg, a prestigious academy in German football, where he played a pivotal role in nurturing young talent.
After his impactful stint at Nuremberg, Koc transitioned to Austria Vienna, serving as assistant manager for 57 matches, spanning a season and a half.
“The Executive Board feel like Michael Wimmer and Ahmet Koc will be excellent additions to the football club,” chief executive Brian Caldwell said.
“It has been a long road to get to this point, but we felt taking our time and ensuring the data all matches up with what we wanted was crucial.
“They have a history of nurturing young players, which stems from their work in a top academy setup in Germany. They have known each other for 13 years, so they are really connected and have a strong working relationship.
“Coming from Germany, they are well acquainted with fan culture and fan ownership. We also feel this is a major positive, as it’s a significant factor around this football club. We’re proud to be fan-owned and community-driven; Michael and Ahmet will have a complete understanding of this.”
“I’m ecstatic to be joining this football club,” manager Michael Wimmer added.
“This is a hugely exciting club whose core values align with mine. Speaking to the board was insightful, and it was interesting to hear their vision.
“It’s not a club standing still, and I feel Ahmet and I can really help the football club move forward. We’re at a crucial segment of the season, with opportunities all around us.
“There will be no settling-in period. We will commit 100% of our efforts to producing an exciting football team that can achieve targets.
“I can’t wait to meet the supporters. The passion and enthusiasm are admirable, and it will be a huge contributing factor in our success going forward.”
