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 Reis withSamsunspor in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Reis | ||
| Date of birth | (1973-10-04)4 October 1973 (age 52) | ||
| Place of birth | Wetheim,West Germany | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender,midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Samsunspor (head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1989 | FC Wertheim-Eichel | ||
| 1989–1990 | VfB Stuttgart | ||
| 1990–1992 | Eintracht Frankfurt | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1995 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 16 | (2) |
| 1995–2003 | VfL Bochum | 176 | (16) |
| 2002–2003 | VfL Bochum II | 1 | (1) |
| 2003–2004 | FC Augsburg | 27 | (3) |
| 2004–2005 | Eintracht Trier | 23 | (1) |
| 2005–2006 | Waldhof Mannheim | 4 | (1) |
| Total | 247 | (24) | |
| International career | |||
| 1993–1995 | Germany U-21 | 7 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2011 | VfL Bochum (women) | ||
| 2014–2015 | VfL Bochum II | ||
| 2019–2022 | VfL Bochum | ||
| 2022–2023 | Schalke 04 | ||
| 2024– | Samsunspor | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Thomas Reis (German pronunciation:[ˈtoːmasˈʁaɪs], born 4 October 1973) is aGermanfootballmanager and former professional player who's the current head coach ofSüper Lig clubSamsunspor.
As a player, he began his career at Wertheim-Eichel and later played for clubs likeVfB Stuttgart,Eintracht Frankfurt, andVfL Bochum, primarily in defensive and midfield roles. His career highlights include helpingBochum achieveBundesliga promotion and playing forGermany U-21. After retiring, he transitioned to coaching, starting withBochum’s youth department and eventually managing the senior team. Reis gained prominence for his tactical acumen, notably leadingBochum toBundesliga promotion in 2021. Later stints included managingSchalke 04 and, as of 2024, heading Turkish clubSamsunspor.[1][2][3][4][5]
Reis began his football career as a youth player with his hometown clubFC Wertheim-Eichel, later joiningVfB Stuttgart, where he reached the final of the B-Youth Championship in the 1989–90 season. He even scoredStuttgart’s only goal in a 1–2 loss against1. FC Köln. He then progressed toEintracht Frankfurt, where his professional journey took off.
In the 1992–93 season, Reis joined the professional squad ofEintracht Frankfurt and made hisBundesliga debut on 4 October 1992, in a 4–0 victory against his former club,VfB Stuttgart. Substituted in the 83rd minute forAxel Kruse, Reis showcased his potential. During this time, from 1993 to 1995, he also played for theGerman U-21 national team. However, he struggled to secure a starting position inFrankfurt, managing only 16Bundesliga appearances over three years.
In 1995, Reis moved toVfL Bochum in the2. Bundesliga. His first season was a massive success, withVfL Bochum earning promotion to theBundesliga, thanks in part to Reis’s 31 appearances. The following year sawVfL Bochum achieve an impressive 5th place in theBundesliga, with Reis playing every single match of the season.
AlthoughBochum initially enjoyed top-tier success, they faced relegation in 1999 and 2001, with Reis still a vital part of the team. However, they also managed to bounce back, celebrating promotion in 2000 and 2002. After yet anotherBundesliga season in2002–03, Reis leftBochum, marking the end of an era.
Reis joinedFC Augsburg in theRegionalliga Süd for the 2003–04 season, narrowly missing promotion with a 4th place finish after 27 appearances and 3 goals. Seeking new challenges, he moved toEintracht Trier in the2. Bundesliga, but his fortunes declined asEintracht Trier was relegated due to a goal difference just one goal worse thanEnergie Cottbus on the 14th spot. This marked a heartbreaking end to his time in Trier.
In the 2005–06 season, Reis signed withSV Waldhof Mannheim in theOberliga Baden-Württemberg. However, his impact was limited, with just four appearances and one goal, signaling the twilight of his playing career.
From youth championships withVfB Stuttgart toBundesliga highs withBochum and dramatic battles atFC Augsburg andEintracht Trier, Thomas Reis’s career exemplifies resilience and passion for football. Despite the ups and downs, his contributions toBochum’s success and his journey acrossGerman football remain memorable.
Reis began his managerial career atVfL Bochum in 2009, working in the club’s youth department. He initially served as a scout before taking on roles as a coach and assistant to the head of the youth program. In February 2012, he transitioned to the first team as an assistant coach underKarsten Neitzel, a position he held until 9 April 2013.
Following his time with the first team, Reis took charge of the U-19 team and, in January 2014, became the head coach of the U-23 squad. By January 2015, he returned to the senior team as an assistant coach. On March 30, 2015, he earned the prestigiousDFB Football Coaching License, solidifying his qualifications as a top-level coach.
On 6 September 2019, After previously serving as the women’s team and as the academy’s head coach, Reis was appointed manager ofVfL Bochum marking the beginning of his tenure in senior management. Under his leadership, the team displayed resilience and a clear tactical structure, which eventually led to their promotion to theBundesliga in the2020–21 season after an 11 year absence fromGermany’s top flight. His managerial style emphasized disciplined defensive organization combined with quick transitions, earning him recognition as a tactically astute coach.[6]
Reis continued to guideVfL Bochum through their return to theBundesliga, ensuring competitive performances against established top-tier teams. His ability to motivate players and adapt strategies during challenging periods became a defining aspect of his managerial career.
After leadingVfL Bochum to theBundesliga, Reis faced a challenging2022–23 season. The team endured their worst start inBundesliga history, losing their first six matches and struggling at both ends of the pitch. Despite his efforts to turn things around, results did not improve, andBochum remained at the bottom of the table. In September 2022, the club decided to part ways with Reis, ending a tenure that had seen both great success and significant challenges.[7]
In October 2022, Reis was appointed as manager of Bundesliga strugglersSchalke 04.[8] After four defeats in the first seven games of the2023–24 2. Bundesliga season, he was sacked on 27 September 2023.[9]
On 12 June 2024, Reis has been the head coach ofSüper Lig clubSamsunspor, succeedingMarkus Gisdol.[10] In his first season withSamsunspor, Reis achieved significant success, guiding the team to a strong performance in the first half of the league. Samsunspor finished the first half of the2024–25 Süper Lig season in 3rd place, demonstrating solid form and positioning themselves as one of the top teams in the league. Despite facing a transfer ban during the2024–25 season, the team remarkably finished third in theSüper Lig, securing qualification for theUEFA Europa League for the first time in the club’s history. As a result, Samsunspor will compete in theEuropa League play-off round in the2025–26 season.[11][12]
| Club | Season | League | DFB-Pokal | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 1992–93 | Bundesliga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1993–94 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | ||
| 1994–95 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Total | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 2 | ||
| VfL Bochum | 1995–96 | 2. Bundesliga | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 32 | 1 | |
| 1996–97 | Bundesliga | 34 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 37 | 2 | ||
| 1997–98 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 31 | 2 | ||
| 1998–99 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | 27 | 7 | |||
| 1999–00 | 2. Bundesliga | 18 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2000–01 | Bundesliga | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 3 | ||
| 2001–02 | 2. Bundesliga | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 16 | 3 | ||
| 2002–03 | Bundesliga | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| Total | 176 | 16 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 197 | 20 | ||
| VfL Bochum II | 2002–03 | Oberliga Westfalen | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | ||
| FC Augsburg | 2003–04 | Regionalliga Süd | 27 | 3 | — | — | 27 | 3 | ||
| Eintracht Trier | 2004–05 | 2. Bundesliga | 23 | 1 | — | — | 27 | 3 | ||
| Waldhof Mannheim | 2005–06 | Oberliga BW | 4 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 247 | 24 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 269 | 28 | ||
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| VfL Bochum II |  | 27 January 2014 | 6 January 2015 | 35 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 40 | 51 | −11 | 017.14 | [13] |
| VfL Bochum | | 6 September 2019 | 12 September 2022 | 112 | 48 | 23 | 41 | 170 | 163 | +7 | 042.86 | [14] |
| Schalke 04 | | 27 October 2022 | 27 September 2023 | 31 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 39 | 61 | −22 | 029.03 | [15] |
| Samsunspor |  | 12 June 2024 | present | 56 | 28 | 15 | 13 | 84 | 59 | +25 | 050.00 | |
| Total | 235 | 92 | 58 | 85 | 333 | 334 | −1 | 039.15 | — | |||
