Arminia Bielefeld head coach, Norbert Meier has extended his contract until 2017. He had already announced that he would do so after the penultimate league game of 2015.
An impressive turnaround
Meier took over the club towards the end of the 2013-14 season, and they fell to one of the most dramatic play-off defeats in recent memory against SV Darmstadt 98. However, despite the drop in divisions, Bielefeld kept faith in the 57-year-old and they were crowned deserved 3. Liga champions just one year later. His second full campaign is yielding yet more success, as he aims to secure their status as a 2. Bundesliga side.
He had various spells with other clubs before Bielefeld, but really seems to have settled down in Westfalen. Meier has spent his entire coaching career in the region, aside from a stint with Dynamo Dresden. He has taken charge of Borussia Mönchengladbach at various levels, as well as Fortuna Düsseldorf and MSV Duisburg - Meier also spent time with Bayer Leverkusen's under-17 side.
Meier and Arabi have their say
"We appreciate the work of Norbert Meier a lot. His work has a lot to do with the outstanding performance of the team," said Samir Arabi. The sporting director was especially delighted after Julian Börner committed his future to the club a day previous. The centre-half has signed a deal through to 2019 at the SchücoArena.
Meier himself also spoke to club website after the news was made public, "We were in good conversation for some time. I feel great in Bielefeld and the work that I do with the team gives me great pleasure. For me there was no reason not to continue here." Bielefeld are currently 12th in the second division, 10 points clear of the drop-zone.