Overview
- The appointment was confirmed during the international break, with multiple outlets reporting unconfirmed performance-related clauses in the deal.
- Polanski had served as interim coach since mid-September after the dismissal of Gerardo Seoane.
- Under his watch the team won three straight matches — 3:1 vs Karlsruher SC in the DFB-Pokal, 4:0 at FC St. Pauli, and 3:1 against 1. FC Köln — reaching the cup last 16 and climbing from 18th to 12th in the league.
- Sporting director Rouven Schröder praised Polanski’s tactical and personal qualities and said the club expects the recent positive development to continue.
- The 39-year-old former Gladbach player moves into his first professional head-coach role, with Bundesliga survival the immediate target and reports pointing to further winter-window squad changes.