Felix Magath's controversial era at Schalke 04

Felix Magath held unprecedented power at Schalke 04 during his tenure starting in 2009, serving simultaneously as head coach, manager, and board member. While his leadership led to significant sporting achievements, including a DFB-Pokal victory, a Champions League semi-final appearance, and a second-place Bundesliga finish, his methods were highly controversial.

Key aspects of his tenure included an attempt to pass the ‘Lex Magath’ in 2010, which sought to allow him to approve multi-million euro transfers without supervisory board consent. The internal atmosphere was reportedly so strained that staff members sought psychotherapy. His training regimen was characterized by extreme physical demands, such as endless forest runs and circuit training, and notably included a period where he prohibited players from drinking water during training to prevent what he viewed as a mere habit.

Magath eventually left the club abruptly and reportedly received a severance payment of approximately two million euros in recognition of the team's successes.