Michael Skibbe

Michael Skibbe is a German professional coach and former midfielder. He was born on 4 August 1965 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Michael had rather short professional playing career. He signed his first professional contract with FC Schalke 04 in 1984 but he managed to play only 15 Bundesliga matches during a two-year stint as he tore his cruciate ligament three times. That forced Skibbe to hang up the boots and he decided to go on as a coach.

Skibbe embarked on his managerial career coaching Schalke 04 youth team in the 1988/89 season. In 1989, he was appointed as a youth coach of Borussia Dortmund and in 1998 Skibbe became the head coach of the top-flight club setting up a record as the youngest Bundesliga coach of all time aged 32. Since 2000 till 2004, he was at the helm of the Germany national team and in 2005 Skibbe took charge over Bayer 04 Leverkusen. In the 2008/09 season, the German coach moved to Turkey and joined the heavyweights Galatasaray as a manager, leading the team to another Turkish Super Cup win that season. In between 2009 and 2012, Skibbe coached Eintracht Frankfurt, Eskişehirspor and Hertha BSC. In May 2012, he took over reins at Karabükspor but only managed to stay for half a season.