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“I have never been a good football professional, but I once played in the Maldives,” said Bo Henriksen, 48, at his inaugural PK in October 2022, drawing laughter.
It describes ‘good-tempered bear’ Henriksen beautifully: he is bursting with energy, is prepared to take on the challenge at FC Zürich with full enthusiasm and bring the club back to the top. That was necessary at this moment. Because the FCZ under Henriksen’s predecessor Franco Foda (57) had fallen to last place in the rankings as champions and was now just a mess.
The start did not give much hope for a rapid improvement: In the Europa League, Henriksen and the FCZ lost 5-0 in Eindhoven despite a good start. But in doing so, the Dane stabilized the defense, played 0-0 a few times and prevented further negative headlines.
Defied the circumstances
Henriksen knew exactly which levers to turn. During the winter break, “Happy Bo” called for reinforcements. Especially during the storm, “that is our priority.” The club has fulfilled this wish. The talented Roko Simic was loaned, but the Croat only scored four times in the second half of the season.
Despite Simic’s meager return, Henriksen managed to strengthen the FCZ almost day after day. What he created in the second half of the season is a success story worthy of a movie: a flop becomes a great one. He is sometimes the second best Super League coach in terms of points behind YB coach Raphael Wicky, turns players like Katic and Condé into top performers and turns the relegation candidate into a seasoned Super League team in a very short time. Getting caught in the barrage always remains mathematically possible until shortly before the end of the season, but FCZ no longer plays as a relegated team.
When Blick met Henriksen for an interview in early April 2023, the Dane seemed relaxed and replied in detail and depth. He was calmer than ever before.
The renewed rush hour problem
He showed that “Happy-Bo” can do things differently from time to time in the 4-1 defeat in Lucerne on April 15, 2023: During the break, clearly audible from the media room, he shouted so violently at the team that the FCZ asked the journalists afterwards to delete any recordings. It shows Henriksen’s will to win, who wants to win every match and be at the top.
That is why he again called for reinforcements during the summer break after the departure of Simic (on loan), Aiyegun Tosin (Lorient), Becir Omeragic (Montpellier) and Blerim Dzemaili (resign). But: The leading actors were not adequately replaced. To make matters worse, ex-sports director Marinko Jurendic also left the FCZ for the Bundesliga, which offended Henriksen.
Double mandate irritates Henriksen
Henriksen was then asked to take on a dual mandate on an interim basis, which he did not like at all. “I’d rather be on the field ten times than on the phone,” he complained publicly. It was also the moment when the explosive rumor arose that he had informed his employer that he did not want to continue after the 23/24 season. To this day, Henriksen leaves this subject uncommented.
From a sporting point of view, Henriksen shone despite the unfavorable conditions and led the FCZ to the leadership throne and to the team with the best points in 2023. When Milos Malenovic (39) was promoted from external advisor to head of sport in October, the Dane decided to focus on his coaching position again after a short delay. All’s well that ends well? Not at all.
The hiring of Malenovic, who brought his ideas, created even more points of interest. The fact that the two parties – despite respectful interactions – are not on the same stage is also evident from the fact that Malenovic noted before the winter break that after more than a year in Switzerland it would be possible to speak to the media in German. Henriksen did not take this advice to heart: he continued to answer questions in English after the winter break.
While the same language was spoken at the FCZ at the beginning of the Henriksen era, opinions are now increasingly divergent. These differences are partly responsible for the club suddenly running into sporting difficulties. Still leader at the end of November, the gap with the top is now 14 points. After the 3-0 defeat against Yverdon and the seventh game without a win in a row, there are many signs that the once successful collaboration between FCZ and Henriksen will end before the summer. “Bo jemine!”
|
team
|
SP
|
T.D
|
PT
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
 BSC Young Boys
|
22
|
28
|
47
|
|
|
2
|
 Napkin FC
|
22
|
13
|
41
|
|
|
3
|
 FC St. Gallen
|
22
|
7
|
36
|
|
|
4
|
 FC Lucerne
|
22
|
-1
|
34
|
|
|
5
|
 FC Zurich
|
22
|
10
|
33
|
|
|
6
|
 FC Lugano
|
22
|
5
|
33
|
|
|
7
|
 FC Winterthur
|
22
|
-6
|
29
|
|
|
8th
|
 Yverdon Sports FC
|
22
|
-15
|
27
|
|
|
9
|
 Grasshopper Club Zurich
|
22
|
0
|
25
|
|
|
10
|
 FC Basel
|
22
|
-8th
|
25
|
|
|
11
|
 FC Lausanne Sport
|
22
|
-8th
|
21
|
|
|
12
|
 FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy
|
22
|
-25
|
14
|
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
