Congratulations?

... go to Mirko Slomka the new coach of top club Schalke 04. From The Sports Network:

Schalke appoints trainer as coach

Berlin, Germany (Sports Network) - Bundesliga club Schalke named assistant trainer Mirko Slomka as the club's new coach Wednesday.

Slomka has been with the club since October 2004, and will take charge until the end of the season. Schalke has said the club would be interested in working with Slomka as coach after the season.

The trainer replaces former coach Ralf Rangnick, who was dismissed by the team in December only three days after announcing his resignation for the end of the season.

Slomka has served as an assistant to Rangnick for five years, joining him with Hanover in 2001, and then with Schalke in 2004. The 38-year-old led his first training session in front of 2,000 fans. The new coach won't make his Bundesliga debut until January 28, however, he will be on the sideline for Schalke's UEFA Cup match against Espanyol in February.

Schalke is in fourth place with 31 points. The club trails leading Bayern by 13 points.

Well many will know that S04 has a fairly friendly fan base, last years Youth Cup Final was S04 vs TeBe (we lost) and the Schalke fans there were a generally nice bunch. But most importantly is this from Welt Fussball.de:

01/06 - 06/06 FC Schalke 04 Deutschland Trainer
10/04 - 01/06 FC Schalke 04 Deutschland Co-Trainer
07/01 - 06/04 Hannover 96 Deutschland Co-Trainer
07/00 - 11/00 TeBe Berlin Deutschland Trainer

Yes, Mirko Slomka is one of us! CONGRATULATIONS, or maybe not....

... it seems according to Lila Kanal that Mirko left TeBe with a few bills left unsettled. Being a fairly recent fan I will have to find out the truth.

More updates to follow.