Jos Luhukay

Jos Luhukay has a wealth of experience in German football where the 54-year-old is regarded as ‘the Bundesliga promotion expert’ achieving promotion with three clubs . Born in Venlo, Netherlands, the former midfielder signed for hometown club VVV-Venlo as a 15-year-old. Following a spell with RKC Waalwijk between 1991 and 1993, Luhukay headed for Germany where he embarked on a successful coaching career after two stints with SV Straelen and KFC Uerdingen as a player. His first foray into management came with Straelen and then Uerdingen before being appointed by Bundesliga side FC Koln as assistant coach. After a short spell as manager of 2. Bundesliga side SC Paderborn in 2005 he became assistant coach of Borussia Monchengladbach, landing the head coach role following the resignation of Jupp Heynckes. Monchengladbach had suffered relegation from the top flight in the 2006/07 season but under the guidance of Luhukay made an immediate return as champions of 2. Bundesliga. In April 2009, Luhukay took charge of 2. Bundesliga side FC Augsburg. Under the Dutchman, Augsburg enjoyed a successful 2009/10 season, reaching the semi finals of the DFB-Pokal as well as finishing third in the league. Promotion to the top tier came the following season when Augsburg finished runners-up, earning a place in the Bundesliga for the first time in the club’s history. Luhukay had the same strong impact with Hertha Berlin after taking the reins in the summer of 2012. During his maiden campaign in the German capital, Hertha broke the record for the most points in a 2. Bundesliga season on the way to the title, achieving 76 from 34 games and finishing nine clear of Eintracht Braunschweig in second place. Having taken Hertha back to the top flight, Luhukay steered the Berlin side to an 11th placed finish in their first season back in the Bundesliga. The 2016/17 season saw Luhukay head to the Mercedes-Benz Arena for a short spell as coach of a VfB Stuttgart team that would go on to achieve promotion. In 2018 he coached Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship before returning to Germany for a spell with St Pauli.