Heidenheim’s Remarkable Ascent to Face Hearts in Conference League

Heidenheim, who achieved promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in 2023 and subsequently secured an eighth-place finish, is set to face Hearts in the UEFA Conference League. The match will take place at Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh on Thursday, 6 November, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT. Live commentary will be available via BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app. The narrative of Heidenheim represents a rare success story in contemporary football. Hailing from a modest town in southern Germany, the club has ascended from the fifth division to both the Bundesliga and European competition over a remarkable 17-year period. This ascent was achieved without the backing of significant external investment, such as wealthy benefactors, affluent nations, extensive club networks, or celebrity endorsements. Instead, the club operated with a notably constrained budget, which was utilized with exceptional efficiency. Much of this accomplishment is attributed to manager Frank Schmidt, who has overseen every match of their impressive progression since 2007. Schmidt, a 50-year-old former player, is a native of Heidenheim, adding a local dimension to their story. His long tenure contrasts with the prevalent trend of frequent managerial changes and immediate solutions in football. In contrast, Hearts head coach Neil Critchley, who will be alongside Schmidt at Tynecastle on Thursday, experienced a significantly shorter tenure at Queens Park Rangers last year, being dismissed after just 12 games. His situation reflects a common pattern in the sport. Both Hearts and Heidenheim enter the match with perfect records in the Conference League, each having secured two wins from two games. These unblemished starts will be challenged in Edinburgh. Hearts’ strong beginning under Critchley provides a basis for confidence in maintaining their current form, yet Heidenheim, despite their underdog status in the Bundesliga, are recognized as formidable opponents. Heidenheim clinched their inaugural promotion to the Bundesliga on the final day of the 2022-23 season. They achieved this by scoring two goals in stoppage time to defeat Jahn Regensburg 3-2, a result that propelled them from third to first place and simultaneously prevented Hamburg from returning to the top flight. This resilience and resolve have been defining characteristics of their ascent, exemplified by their 3-2 victory over Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich last season, a match where they recovered from a 2-0 deficit. Nearly half of the players who contributed to their promotion from the second tier remain with the club. A significant portion of these players initially began their careers at larger clubs, such as Borussia Dortmund or Wolfsburg, but did not establish themselves at that level. Consequently, the majority of Schmidt’s squad have spent most of their careers competing in Germany’s lower football divisions. The team consistently demonstrates a strong desire to prove themselves, and Schmidt has instilled a highly disciplined approach. They operate as a classic underdog side, excelling in defensive play, executing rapid counter-attacks, and maximizing opportunities from set-pieces. Schmidt emphasizes work-rate as a fundamental requirement; last season, his team covered the greatest distance in the Bundesliga and ranked third for intensive sprints. This tactical approach culminated in an eighth-place league finish, secured with a 4-1 victory against Cologne on the season’s concluding day. Frank Schmidt, Heidenheim’s manager, holds the distinction of being the longest-serving coach at a single club in the history of German football. While Hearts anticipate a significant challenge from Heidenheim, the encounter might prove less demanding than it would have been last season. Following their success, larger clubs acquired several of Heidenheim’s key players during the summer transfer window, a common occurrence for smaller successful teams. Specifically, Jan-Niklas Beste was transferred to Benfica for £8 million, Tim Kleindienst moved to Borussia Monchengladbach, and Eren Dinkci’s loan spell from Werder Bremen concluded. Collectively, these three players accounted for 30 of Heidenheim’s 50 league goals, with Beste also providing 11 assists, frequently from well-executed set-pieces. Operating with the Bundesliga’s most modest budget, the club did not make substantial expenditures to replace these three players, resulting in a varied start to the current season. They currently sit 13th in the league with three victories from nine matches and have secured only one win in their last six fixtures, which was against Pafos in the Conference League. An additional factor potentially favoring Hearts is Schmidt’s practice of rotating his squad for European matches, often benching regular Bundesliga starters on Thursday evenings. Paul Wanner, the highly-regarded Bayern Munich number 10 on loan, has not yet started in this competition, despite having scored the winning goal against Olimpija Ljubljana. The 18-year-old Wanner holds the record as the youngest player to appear for Bayern, having made his debut at 16, and has drawn comparisons to talents like Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz early in his career. Nevertheless, Heidenheim’s primary strength lies in its collective unit. The club and its supporters are experiencing a remarkable period, and they are committed to extending this journey at Tynecastle.