Over the next decade, he would again establish the Baden-Württemberg club in the second division and came agonisingly close to a historic promotion in 2019/20, when only away goals denied them victory in the play-off against Werder Bremen. Another contract until 2027 followed in October 2021, when he was already Germany’s current longest-serving coach.

History was finally made in dramatic late fashion on the final day of 2022/23 as Heidenheim leapt from third to first in added time to secure promotion to the Bundesliga and top-flight football for the first time ever. Their first point at this level came in Dortmund on Matchday 3, before Schmidt overtook Finke and made history himself on Matchday 4 with Heidenheim’s game at home to Bremen – his 591st at the helm. He's now reached 614 in charge.

2) Volker Finke (Freiburg) – 16 years (1 July 1991 – 30 June 2007)

Schmidt had just retired as a player with Heidenheim in the fourth tier when Finke’s record 16-year tenure at Freiburg came to an end in 2007. Finke had been a coach for lower-league sides TSV Stelingen, TSV Havelse and SC Norderstedt when Freiburg president Achim Stocker became aware of him in 1991 and brought him to the then Bundesliga 2 club. He guided them to the Bundesliga for the first time ever in 1993 and then to their best-ever finish of third in 1994/95.

Highlights

10 longest-serving German coaches