View source for Thorsten Fink

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{short description|German football player and coach}}
{{lead too short|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| fullname = Thorsten Fink
| image = 20160714 EL Austria vs Kukesi 1622.jpg
| caption = Fink in 2016
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1967|10|29}}
| birth_place = [[Dortmund]], West Germany
| height = {{height|m=1.81}}
| currentclub = [[K.R.C. Genk|KRC Genk]] (head coach)
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 1976–1983
| youthclubs1 = SV Roland Marten
| youthyears2 = 1983–1986
| youthclubs2 = [[Borussia Dortmund]]
| years1 = 1989–1994
| clubs1 = [[SG Wattenscheid 09|Wattenscheid 09]]
| caps1 = 162
| goals1 = 26
| years2 = 1994–1997
| clubs2 = [[Karlsruher SC]]
| caps2 = 92
| goals2 = 11
| years3 = 1997–2003
| clubs3 = [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
| caps3 = 150
| goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2003–2006
| clubs4 = [[FC Bayern Munich II|Bayern Munich II]]
| caps4 = 86
| goals4 = 6
| totalcaps = 490
| totalgoals = 47
| nationalyears1 = 1989
| nationalteam1 = [[Germany national under-21 football team|West Germany U21]]
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2006–2007
| managerclubs1 = [[FC Red Bull Salzburg#FC Liefering|Red Bull Salzburg]] (Junior)
| manageryears2 = 2008–2009
| managerclubs2 = [[FC Ingolstadt 04|FC Ingolstadt]]
| manageryears3 = 2009–2011
| managerclubs3 = [[FC Basel|Basel]]
| manageryears4 = 2011–2013
| managerclubs4 = [[Hamburger SV]]
| manageryears5 = 2015
| managerclubs5 = [[APOEL FC|APOEL]]
| manageryears6 = 2015–2018
| managerclubs6 = [[FK Austria Wien|Austria Wien]]
| manageryears7 = 2018–2019
| managerclubs7 = [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]]
| manageryears8 = 2019–2020
| managerclubs8 = [[Vissel Kobe]]
| manageryears9 = 2022
| managerclubs9 = [[Riga FC|Riga]]
| manageryears10 = 2022
| managerclubs10 =  [[Al Nasr SC (Dubai)|Al Nasr]]
| manageryears11 = 2023–2024
| managerclubs11 = [[Sint-Truidense V.V.|Sint-Truiden]] 
| manageryears12 = 2024–
| managerclubs12 = [[K.R.C. Genk|KRC Genk]]
}}
'''Thorsten Fink''' (born 29 October 1967) is a German football coach and a former [[Association football|footballer]], who is the head coach of [[Belgian Pro League]] club [[K.R.C. Genk|KRC Genk]].

==Playing career==
[[File:Fink, Thorsten.JPG|thumb|Fink with Bayern Munich]]
Fink began his career with [[Borussia Dortmund]]'s reserve squad before moving to [[SG Wattenscheid 09]], where he helped them gain promotion to the first division of German football, the [[1. Bundesliga]], in 1990. After the club's relegation in 1994, he moved to [[Karlsruher SC]], where he spent three seasons as a regular and impressed so much that he earned himself a move to the most successful club in Germany, [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]], in 1997. He subsequently spent seven seasons at Bayern, five of which as a regular, but lost his place in the starting lineup in 2002 and was transferred to the club's reserve squad in the German third division, the [[Regionalliga]], in February 2003, although he managed a return to the Bundesliga squad in late April 2003. In the [[2003–04 Bundesliga|2003–04 season]], he became a regular in Bayern's [[FC Bayern Munich II|reserve squad]] and only made one, his last, Bundesliga appearance that season, coming on as a substitute against [[VfL Wolfsburg]] in September 2003. His contract with Bayern's Bundesliga squad expired in June 2004 and he subsequently only continued to play another two seasons for the club's reserve squad before definitely ending his playing career upon the end of the 2005–06 season.

While playing for Bayern's first team, he helped the team reach the [[1999 UEFA Champions League Final|1999 Champions League final]] against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], where Bayern dramatically lost 2–1, conceding two goals in injury time. Fink came on as a substitute late in the game, but his sliced clearance in the 91st minute led to United's equaliser, with the ball breaking to [[Ryan Giggs]] whose shot was turned into the net by [[Teddy Sheringham]].

However, Fink still managed to pick up a Champions League winner's medal two years later, as Bayern beat [[Valencia CF|Valencia]] in the [[2001 UEFA Champions League Final|2001 Champions League final]] on penalties, although he did not play in the match. He also won four Bundesliga champions titles and three [[German Cup]]s with the club.

He was forced to end his playing career in 2006 after sustaining [[cartilage]] damage in his [[knee]].

==Coaching career==

===Early career===
While still playing for Bayern, he had already graduated from [[German Sport University Cologne|Cologne Sport University]], in December 2005, after taking a course on coaching. From 5 September 2006, he began coaching [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]]'s [[FC Red Bull Salzburg#FC Liefering|reserve side]]. After the departure of [[Lothar Matthäus]] as the assistant of head coach [[Giovanni Trapattoni]], Fink stepped up and became the new assistant.

Fink took over as head coach of [[FC Ingolstadt 04]] on 4 January 2008, replacing [[Jürgen Press]], who was sacked on [[New Year's Day]].<ref name=ingolstadtjob>{{cite news|title=Alles klar mit Fink|url=https://www.kicker.de/alles-klar-mit-fink-373635/artikel|access-date=8 February 2013|newspaper=kicker|date=4 January 2008|language=de}}</ref> He appointed [[Heiko Vogel]] as his assistant. His first match was a 3–1 win against [[VfB Stuttgart II]].<ref name="2007–08 season">{{cite web|title=FC ingolstadt 04 |url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-ingolstadt-04/spielplan |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 February 2017|language=de}}</ref> Ingolstadt finished the [[2007–08 Regionalliga|2007–08 season]] in second place.<ref name="2007–08 league table">{{cite web|title=Regionalliga Süd (2000–2008) - Spieltag / Tabelle |url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/regionalliga/rlligen/regionalliga-sued-37/2007-08/34/0/spieltag.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718150927/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/regionalliga/rlligen/regionalliga-sued-37/2007-08/34/0/spieltag.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 July 2012 |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 February 2017|language=de}}</ref> Ingolstadt started the [[2008–09 FC Ingolstadt 04 season|2008–09 season]] by losing to [[Hamburger SV]] in the first round of the German Cup.<ref name="2008–09 season">{{cite web|title=FC Ingolstadt 04 |url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-ingolstadt-04/spielplan/2-bundesliga/2008-09 |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 February 2017|language=de}}</ref> Fink was fired on 22 April 2009.<ref name=ingolstadtsacking>{{cite news |title=FCI trennt sich von Fink|url=https://www.kicker.de/fci-trennt-sich-von-fink-507604/artikel |access-date=8 February 2013|newspaper=kicker|date=22 April 2009|language=de}}</ref> He finished with a record of 16 wins, 11 draws, and 17 losses.<ref name="FC Ingolstadt 04 - Trainerhistorie">{{cite web|title=FC Ingolstadt 04|url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-ingolstadt-04/team-trainer/bundesliga/2015-16|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=10 November 2015|language=de}}</ref> His final match was a 3–2 loss against [[SC Freiburg]].<ref name="2008–09 season"/> Ingolstadt were in 17th place when Fink was sacked.<ref name="2008–09 league table">{{cite web |title=2. Bundesliga - Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/2-bundesliga/spieltag/2008-09/28/0 |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] |publisher=kicker|access-date=11 February 2017|language=de}}</ref>

===FC Basel===
On 9 June 2009, Fink was appointed manager of [[FC Basel]] as replacement for [[Christian Gross]].<ref name=baseljob>{{cite web | url = http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID//10044/22333/16/7 | title = Thorsten Fink ist der neue Cheftrainer des FCB | trans-title = Thorsten Fink appointed new head coach of FC Basel | date = 9 June 2009 | access-date = 23 May 2011 | publisher = FC Basel | language = de | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716092147/http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID//10044/22333/16/7 | archive-date = 16 July 2011}}</ref> Fink took his assistant Vogel with him.<ref name="fcb 2">{{cite web | publisher = FC Basel 1893  | url = http://www.fcb.ch/news/show/byItemID/-/10044/22371 | title = FCB ergänzt Trainer Team | access-date = 1 January 2012 | date = 16 June 2009 | language = de}}</ref> His first match was a 2–0 loss to [[FC St. Gallen]] on 12 July 2009.<ref name="2009–10 season">{{cite web|title=FC Basel » Fixtures & Results 2009/2010|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/fc-basel/2010/3/ |publisher=World Football|access-date=14 February 2017}}</ref> In domestic affairs Basel swept the board in 2009/10. Despite a poor start to the season, Finks' side came back to win the [[2009–10 Swiss Super League|2010 Super League title]]<ref name="2009–10 league table">{{cite web |title=Switzerland » Super League 2009/2010 » 36. Round|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/schedule/sui-super-league-2009-2010-spieltag/36/ |publisher=World Football |access-date=14 February 2017}}</ref> on the last day of the season with an away win against favourites [[BSC Young Boys]] in the [[Stade de Suisse]]. Young prospect [[Valentin Stocker]] and club legend [[Scott Chipperfield]] gave Basel the goals in the 2–0 victory on 16 May. FC Basel won the [[2009–10 Swiss Cup|Swiss Cup Final 2010]] with a 6–0 victory over [[FC Lausanne-Sport]] on 9 May.<ref name="2009–10 season"/> Basel started the 2010–11 season against [[FC Zürich]] on 20 July.<ref name="2010–11 season">{{cite web|title=FC Basel » Fixtures & Results 2010/2011|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/fc-basel/2011/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=14 February 2017}}</ref> With Fink Basel also won the [[2010–11 Swiss Super League|2011 Super League title]] and the 2011 [[Uhrencup]]. Fink left the club in October 2011.<ref name=hamburgjob>{{cite news |title=Bestätigt: Fink übernimmt HSV |url=https://www.kicker.de/bestaetigt_fink-uebernimmt-hsv-559162/artikel |access-date=8 February 2013|newspaper=kicker|date=13 October 2011|language=de}}</ref> His final match was a 5–1 win against FC Schötz in the Swiss Cup.<ref name="2011–12 season">{{cite web|title=FC Basel » Fixtures & Results 2011/2012|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/fc-basel/2012/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=14 February 2017}}</ref>

[[Fwayo Tembo]] left [[FC Basel]] after he accused club coach Thorsten Fink of making racist remarks towards him during a training session. Fink is reported to have told a collaborator to "get the monkey down from the tree."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/fotbalistul-dorit-de-becali-a-regresat-in-cariera-dupa-ce-a-fost-victima-rasismului-jos-cu-maimuta-din-copac-364947.html|title=Fotbalistul dorit de Becali a regresat în carieră după ce a fost victima rasismului: "Jos cu maimuţa din copac!" |publisher=Gazeta Sporturilor|work=gsp.ro|access-date=9 October 2012|language=ro}}</ref>

===Hamburger SV===
On 13 October 2011, Fink signed a contract with [[Hamburger SV]] to manage the German [[Bundesliga]] club through to 2014.<ref name=hamburgjob/> with the team in the relegation zone after losing six of their opening eight matches. His first match was a 1–1 draw against [[VfL Wolfsburg]].<ref name="Hamburger SV 2011–12 season">{{cite web|title=Hamburger SV|url=https://www.kicker.de/hamburger-sv/spielplan/bundesliga/2011-12 |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 February 2017|language=de}}</ref> In HSV's first nine games under Fink they were unbeaten, going into the winter break in thirteenth place.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kicker.de/hsv-gegen-augsburg-2011-bundesliga-1143434/spielinfo|title=Amsif rettet FCA einen Punkt|access-date=5 June 2013|work=kicker}}</ref> The team eventually finished [[2011–12 Bundesliga|fifteenth]], avoiding a first ever relegation by five points.<ref name="2011–12 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga - Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2011-12/34/0|access-date=28 May 2015|language=de}}</ref>

In [[2012–13 Bundesliga|2012–13]], HSV recorded a much improved seventh-place finish.<ref name="2012–13 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga - Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2012-13/34/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 February 2017|language=de}}</ref> However, during [[2012–13 Hamburger SV season|the season]] Hamburg lost to [[Karlsruher SC]] in the first round of the German Cup.<ref name="2012–13 season">{{cite web|title=Hamburger SV|url=https://www.kicker.de/hamburger-sv/spielplan/bundesliga/2012-13|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 February 2017|language=de}}</ref> the team equaled the club's record Bundesliga defeat, losing 9–2 at the [[Allianz Arena]] to [[FC Bayern Munich]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1395258/hamburg-chief-carl-jarchow-calls-for-action-after-bayern-drubbing?src=mobile&cc=3436|title=Hamburg chief: Bayern defeat 'disgraceful'|date=1 April 2013|access-date=5 June 2013|work=ESPN}}</ref>

Following a run of disastrous results during which Hamburger SV picked up only four points from their first five league games of the [[2013–14 Hamburger SV season|2013–14 Bundesliga season]] and with the club in 15th place in the league table, Fink was sacked with immediate effect on 16 September 2013.<ref name=hamburgsacking>{{cite news|title=HSV trennt sich sofort von Fink|url=https://www.kicker.de/hsv-trennt-sich-sofort-von-fink-592237/artikel|access-date=17 September 2013|newspaper=kicker|date=16 September 2013|language=de}}</ref> "We were no longer confident that Thorsten Fink was capable of turning the team around and that was why we took this decision (to sack Fink). Also it is apparent that he had 'outside troubles' which could have contributed to his poor results. His final match was a 6–2 loss to [[Borussia Dortmund]].<ref name="2013–14 season">{{cite web|title=Hamburger SV|url=https://www.kicker.de/hamburger-sv/spielplan/bundesliga/2013-14|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 February 2017|language=de}}</ref> He finished with a record of 23 wins, 18 draws, and 27 losses in 68 matches.<ref name="Hamburger SV - Trainerhistorie">{{cite web|title=Hamburger SV|url=https://www.kicker.de/hamburger-sv/team-trainer/bundesliga/2014-15|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=28 May 2015|language=de}}</ref>

===APOEL===
On 10 January 2015, Fink signed a contract until the end of the 2014–15 season, with the option of a further season with the reigning [[Cyprus|Cypriot]] champions [[APOEL FC]], replacing [[Giorgos Donis]] who was fired on 6 January 2015.<ref name="apoeljob">{{cite web|url=http://apoelfc.com.cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=12512&tt=graphic&lang=l1|publisher=APOEL FC|script-title=el:Ανακοίνωση συμφωνίας/Δήλωση Thorsten Fink|date=10 January 2015|access-date=10 January 2015|language=el}}</ref> His first match was a 2–1 loss to AEL Limassol.<ref name="2014–15 season">{{cite web|title=APOEL Nikosia » Fixtures & Results 2014/2015|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/apoel-nikosia/2015/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=11 February 2017}}</ref> Following a run of disappointing performances and one day after a questionable 1–0 loss to [[Apollon Limassol]], Fink was sacked by [[APOEL FC|APOEL]] on 11 May 2015,<ref name="apoel-sacked">{{cite web|url=http://apoelfc.com.cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=13034&tt=graphic&lang=l1|publisher=APOEL FC|script-title=el:Κοινή συναινέσει λύση συνεργασίας με Thorsten Fink|date=11 May 2015|access-date=11 May 2015|language=el}}</ref> although at that moment the team were two points clear at the top of the [[2014–15 Cypriot First Division|league]] with only two matches remaining.

===Austria Wien===

Fink was hired as [[FK Austria Wien|Austria Wien]]'s head coach on 28 May 2015.<ref name="Absage an 96: Fink übernimmt Austria Wien">{{cite news|title=Absage an 96: Fink übernimmt Austria Wien|url=https://www.kicker.de/absage-an-96_fink-uebernimmt-austria-wien-628041/artikel|access-date=28 May 2015|publisher=kicker|date=28 May 2015|language=de}}</ref> He was given a two-year contract plus an option<ref name="Absage an 96: Fink übernimmt Austria Wien"/> and started in the [[2015–16 FK Austria Wien season|2015–16 season]].<ref name="Fix: Fink wird neuer Austria-Coach">{{cite news|title=Fix: Fink wird neuer Austria-Coach|url=http://sport.oe24.at/fussball/fussball-national/bundesliga/Fix-Fink-wird-neuer-Austria-Coach/190269983|access-date=28 May 2015|publisher=Österreich|date=28 May 2015|language=de}}</ref> He was also in negotiations with [[Hannover 96]].<ref name="Absage an 96: Fink übernimmt Austria Wien"/> He had his first training on 22 June 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=Austria: So lief 1. Training unter Fink|url=http://sport.oe24.at/fussball/fussball-national/bundesliga/Austria-So-lief-1-Training-unter-Fink/193352306|access-date=22 June 2015|publisher=Österreich|date=22 June 2015|language=de}}</ref> On 17 July 2015, in his first match, Austria won 3–0 in the Austrian Cup.<ref>{{cite news|title=Austria locker eine Runde weiter|url=http://sport.oe24.at/fussball/fussball-national/Austria-locker-eine-Runde-weiter/196712413|access-date=17 July 2015|publisher=Österreich|date=17 July 2015|language=de}}</ref><ref name="2015–16 season">{{cite web|title=Austria Wien » Fixtures & Results 2015/2016|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/austria-wien/2016/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=13 February 2017}}</ref> On 26 July 2015, in his first league match, Austria defeated [[Wolfsberger AC|Wolfsberg]] 2–0 away from home.<ref>{{cite news|title=Austria feiert Sieg bei Fink-Debüt|url=http://sport.oe24.at/fussball/fussball-national/bundesliga/Austria-feiert-Sieg-bei-Fink-Debuet/197592461|access-date=26 July 2015|publisher=Österreich|date=26 July 2015|language=de}}</ref> On 23 April 2016, Austria Wien defeated [[SV Mattersburg]] 9–0.<ref>{{cite web|title=tipico - Bundesliga, 2015/16, 32. Spieltag|url=https://www.kicker.de/mattersburg-gegen-austria-wien-2016-bundesliga-oesterreich-2847279/schema|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=4 May 2016|language=de}}</ref> He finished the 2015–16 season in third place.<ref name="2015–16 league table">{{cite web|title=tipico - Bundesliga - Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga-oesterreich/spieltag/2015-16/36/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 June 2016|language=de}}</ref>

Austria Wien started the [[2016–17 FK Austria Wien season|2016–17 season]] with a 1–0 win against [[FK Kukësi|Kukësi]] in the [[2016–17 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] on 14 July 2016.<ref name="2016–17 season">{{cite web|title=Austria Wien » Fixtures & Results 2016/2017|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/austria-wien/2017/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=13 February 2017|language=de}}</ref>

After bad results and standing in seventh place Fink was dismissed on 25 February.<ref name="Austria trennt sich von Trainer Fink">{{cite web|title=Austria trennt sich von Trainer Fink|date=25 February 2018 |url=https://kurier.at/sport/bundesliga/fussball-bundesliga-austria-trennt-sich-von-trainer-fink/312.046.528|publisher=kurier.at|access-date=25 February 2018|language=de}}</ref> His final match was a 2–1 loss to [[FC Admira Wacker Mödling|Admira Wacker Mödling]] on 24 February 2018.<ref name="2017–18 season">{{cite web |title=Austria Wien » Fixtures & Results 2017/2018 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/austria-wien/2018/3/ |publisher=World Football |access-date=25 August 2018 |language=de}}</ref>

===Grasshoppers===

Fink became manager of [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]] on 23 April 2018.<ref name="Ab sofort ein Grasshopper: Fink landet in Zürich">{{cite web |title=Ab sofort ein Grasshopper: Fink landet in Zürich |url=https://www.kicker.de/ab-sofort-ein-grasshopper_fink-landet-in-zuerich-722318/artikel |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] |publisher=kicker |access-date=25 August 2018 |language=de |date=23 April 2018}}</ref> His first match was a 1–0 win against FC Lausanne-Sport on 28 April 2018.<ref name="Grasshopper Club Zürich » Fixtures & Results 2017/2018">{{cite web |title=Grasshopper Club Zürich » Fixtures & Results 2017/2018 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/grasshopper-club-zuerich/2018/3/ |publisher=World Football |access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref> He started the 2018–19 season with a 2–0 loss against BSC Young Boys.<ref name="2018–19 season">{{cite web |title=Grasshopper Club Zürich » Fixtures & Results 2018/2019 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/grasshopper-club-zuerich/2019/3/ |publisher=World Football |access-date=25 August 2018}}</ref>

After disastrous results of only one point out of his last eight matches in the [[Swiss Super League]]<ref name="2018–19 season"/> and standing in last place Fink was sacked on 4 March 2019.<ref name="Wende nicht geschafft: Fink-Aus in Zürich">{{cite web |title=Wende nicht geschafft: Fink-Aus in Zürich|url=https://www.kicker.de/wende-nicht-geschafft_fink-aus-in-zuerich-743726/artikel |publisher=kicker |access-date=15 March 2019 |language=de |date=4 March 2019}}</ref> His last match was a 1–3 loss against [[FC Luzern]] on 2 March 2019.<ref name="2018–19 season"/>

===Vissel Kobe===
On 8 June 2019, Fink was appointed as the new manager of [[Vissel Kobe]], replacing the outgoing [[Juan Manuel Lillo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vissel-kobe.co.jp/news/article/16255.html|title=トルステン フィンク氏監督就任およびトップチーム新体制のお知らせ|publisher=Vissel Kobe|lang=ja|date=8 June 2019|access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="Podolski-Club Kobe holt Trainer Fink">{{cite web |title=Podolski-Club Kobe holt Trainer Fink |url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/hamburg/article194970121/Podolski-Club-Kobe-holt-Trainer-Fink.html?wtrid=onsite.onsitesearch |publisher=Die Welt |access-date=1 January 2020 |language=de |date=8 June 2019}}</ref>

Fink managed to bring in the first two titles in club history of Vissel Kobe, winning the [[Emperor's Cup|Emperors Cup]] and [[Japanese Super Cup]] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2020/02/08/5e3eaa53e2704e23b08b45e1.html|title=Iniesta wins his second trophy with Vissel Kobe after penalty shoot-out drama|date=2020-02-08|website=MARCA in English|language=en|access-date=2020-02-09}}</ref>

On 22 September 2020, Fink decided to resign to return to his family.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-japan/soccer-fink-steps-down-as-vissel-kobe-manager-idUKL3N2GK1UL |title=Soccer-Fink steps down as Vissel Kobe manager |website=Reuters |date=23 September 2020 }}</ref>

===Riga FC===
In January 2022, Fink was appointed head coach of [[Riga FC]].<ref> {{cite web|url=https://rigafc.lv/lv/post/406|title=TORSTENS FINKS - "RIGA FOOTBALL CLUB" GALVENAIS TRENERIS!|trans-title=THORSTEN FINK APPOINTED "RIGA FOOTBALL CLUB" HEAD COACH!|website=rigafc.lv|language=Latvian|date=4 January 2022|accessdate=14 March 2022}}</ref> On 16 May 2022, Fink left Riga to take on a managerial job at another club.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://rigafc.lv/en/post/572|title=THORSTEN FINK IS LEAVING THE CLUB|website=rigafc.lv/en|date=16 May 2022|accessdate=9 September 2022}}</ref>

===Al-Nasr===
In May 2022, Fink became head coach of the [[UAE Pro League]] club [[Al-Nasr SC (Dubai)|Al-Nasr]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportschau.de/newsticker/dpa-fink-neuer-trainer-bei-al-nasr-sc-story-sp-100.html |title=Fink neuer Trainer bei Al Nasr SC |website=Sportschau |language=de |date=19 May 2022 }}</ref> In November, he was dismissed as the club was third from bottom in the [[2022–23 UAE Pro League|league table]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.srf.ch/sport/fussball/fussball-allgemein/internationale-fussball-news-fink-ist-seinen-job-in-dubai-los |title=Fink ist seinen Job in Dubai los |website=srf.ch |language=de |date=5 November 2022 }}</ref>

===Sint-Truiden===
In May 2023, Fink was appointed head coach of Belgian side [[Sint-Truidense V.V.|Sint-Truiden]], succeeding [[Bernd Hollerbach]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sport1.de/news/internationaler-fussball/2023/05/neuer-job-fink-heuert-als-trainer-bei-vv-st-truiden-an |title=Fink heuert als Trainer bei VV St. Truiden an |website=sport1.de |language=de |date=16 May 2023 }}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" Style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club!!rowspan="2"|Season!!colspan="3"|League!!colspan="2"|[[DFB-Pokal|German Cup]]!!colspan="2"|[[UEFA#Competitions|Europe]]!!colspan="2"|Other{{ref|a|1}}!!colspan="2"|Total!!rowspan="2"|{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[Borussia Dortmund]]||[[1987–88 Borussia Dortmund season|1987–88]]||[[Bundesliga]]||0||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches">{{cite web|title=Thorsten Fink » Club matches|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/thorsten-fink/2/|publisher=World Football|access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[SG Wattenscheid 09|Wattenscheid]]||[[1989–90 SG Wattenscheid 09 season|1989–90]]||[[2. Bundesliga]]||37||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||39||1||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[1990–91 SG Wattenscheid 09 season|1990–91]]||Bundesliga||28||4||4||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||5||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[1991–92 SG Wattenscheid 09 season|1991–92]]||Bundesliga||32||8||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||33||8||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[1992–93 SG Wattenscheid 09 season|1992–93]]||Bundesliga||32||8||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||33||8||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[1993–94 SG Wattenscheid 09 season|1993–94]]||Bundesliga||33||5||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||36||5||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!162!!26!!11!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!173!!27!!—
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Karlsruher SC|Karlsruhe]]||[[1994–95 Karlsruher SC season|1994–95]]||Bundesliga||31||5||4||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||35||7||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[1995–96 Karlsruher SC season|1995–96]]||Bundesliga||29||1||6||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||35||2||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[1996–97 Karlsruher SC season|1996–97]]||Bundesliga||32||5||5||1||5||2||colspan="2"|—||42||8||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!92!!11!!15!!4!!5!!2!!colspan="2"|—!!112!!17!!—
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
|[[1997–98 FC Bayern Munich season|1997–98]]
|Bundesliga
|33||1||6||1||8||0||2||0||49||2||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[1998–99 FC Bayern Munich season|1998–99]]||Bundesliga
|28||0||4||1||10||1||2||0||44||2||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[1999–2000 FC Bayern Munich season|1999–2000]]||Bundesliga
|26||0||4||0||11||1||2||0||43||1||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[2000–01 FC Bayern Munich season|2000–01]]||Bundesliga
|24||1||2||1||10||0||2||0||38||2||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[2001–02 FC Bayern Munich season|2001–02]]||Bundesliga
|28||2||4||0||12||0||1||0||45||2||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[2002–03 FC Bayern Munich season|2002–03]]||Bundesliga
|10||0||2||0||3||0||1||0||16||0||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[2003–04 FC Bayern Munich season|2003–04]]||Bundesliga
|1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!150!!4!!22!!3!!54!!2!!10!!0!!236!!9!!—
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[FC Bayern Munich II|Bayern Munich II]]
|[[2002–03 Regionalliga|2002–03]]||[[Regionalliga Süd (1994–2012)|Regionalliga Süd]]||6||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||6||0||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[2003–04 Regionalliga|2003–04]]||Regionalliga Süd||27||4||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||27||4||<ref name="Thorsten Fink » Club matches"/>
|-
|[[2004–05 Regionalliga|2004–05]]||Regionalliga Süd||34||1||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||38||1||<ref>{{cite web|title=Thorsten Fink|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/regionalliga/rlligen/2004-05/139/vereinsspieler_thorsten-fink.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116104946/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/regionalliga/rlligen/2004-05/139/vereinsspieler_thorsten-fink.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 November 2017|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 June 2016|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[2005–06 Regionalliga|2005–06]]||Regionalliga Süd||19||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||19||1||<ref>{{cite web|title=Thorsten Fink|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/regionalliga/rlligen/2005-06/139/vereinsspieler_thorsten-fink.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116104923/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/regionalliga/rlligen/2005-06/139/vereinsspieler_thorsten-fink.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 November 2017|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 June 2016|language=de}}</ref>
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!86!!6!!4!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!90!!6!!—
|-
!colspan="3"|Career totals!!490!!47!!53!!8!!59!!4!!10!!0!!612!!59!!—
|}
*1.{{note|a}}Includes [[DFL-Ligapokal|German League Cup]] and [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]].

===Managerial statistics===
{{updated|matches played on 25 May 2025}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team!!rowspan="2"|From!!rowspan="2"|To!!colspan="6"|Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}!!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}!!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}!!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}!!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}!!{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|[[FC Ingolstadt 04|Ingolstadt]]||4 January 2008<ref name=ingolstadtjob/>||22 April 2009<ref name=ingolstadtsacking/>
{{WDL|44|16|11|17}}
|<ref name="FC Ingolstadt 04 - Trainerhistorie"/>
|-
|[[FC Basel|Basel]]||9 June 2009<ref name=baseljob/>||17 October 2011<ref name=hamburgjob/>
{{WDL|119|76|22|21}}
|<ref name="2009–10 season"/><ref name="2010–11 season"/><ref name="2011–12 season"/>
|-
|[[Hamburger SV|Hamburg]]||17 October 2011<ref name=hamburgjob/>||16 September 2013<ref name=hamburgsacking/>
{{WDL|68|23|18|27}}
|<ref name="Hamburger SV - Trainerhistorie"/> 
|-
|[[APOEL FC|APOEL]]||10 January 2015<ref name=apoeljob/>||11 May 2015<ref name=apoel-sacked/>
{{WDL|22|11|8|3}}
|<ref name="2014–15 season"/>
|-
|[[FK Austria Wien|Austria Wien]]||4 June 2015<ref name="Absage an 96: Fink übernimmt Austria Wien"/><ref name="Fix: Fink wird neuer Austria-Coach"/>||25 February 2018<ref name="Austria trennt sich von Trainer Fink"/>
{{WDL|123|60|21|42}}
|<ref name="2015–16 season"/><ref name="2016–17 season"/><ref name="2017–18 season"/>
|-
|[[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]]||23 April 2018<ref name="Ab sofort ein Grasshopper: Fink landet in Zürich"/>||4 March 2019<ref name="Wende nicht geschafft: Fink-Aus in Zürich"/>
{{WDL|35|10|5|20}}
|<ref name="Grasshopper Club Zürich » Fixtures & Results 2017/2018"/><ref name="2018–19 season"/>
|-
|[[Vissel Kobe]]||8 June 2019<ref name="Podolski-Club Kobe holt Trainer Fink"/>||22 September 2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spox.com/de/sport/fussball/international/2009/News/thorsten-fink-verlaesst-vissel-kope.html |title=Thorsten Fink verlässt Vissel Kobe |website=spox.com |language=de |date=22 September 2020 }}</ref>
{{WDL|49|22|12|15}}
|
|-
|[[Riga FC]]||4 January 2022||16 May 2022
{{WDL|13|8|1|4}}
|
|-
|[[Al-Nasr SC (Dubai)|Al Nasr]]||19 May 2022||5 November 2022
{{WDL|12|2|5|5}}
|
|-
|[[Sint-Truidense V.V.|Sint-Truiden]]||16 May 2023||5 June 2024
{{WDL|42|13|15|14}}
|
|-
|[[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]]||5 June 2024||present
{{WDL|47|29|8|10}}
|
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|561|267|124|170}}
!—
|}

==Honours==

===Player===
'''Bayern Munich'''
*[[Bundesliga]]: [[1998–99 Bundesliga|1998–99]], [[1999–2000 Bundesliga|1999–2000]], [[2000–01 Bundesliga|2000–01]], [[2002–03 Bundesliga|2002–03]]
*[[DFB-Pokal]]: [[1997–98 DFB-Pokal|1997–98]], [[1999–2000 DFB-Pokal|1999–2000]], [[2002–03 DFB-Pokal|2002–03]]
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[2000–01 UEFA Champions League|2000–01]]
*[[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]: [[2001 Intercontinental Cup|2001]]

===Manager===
'''Basel'''
*[[Swiss Super League]]: [[2009–10 Swiss Super League|2009–10]], [[2010–11 Swiss Super League|2010–11]]
*[[Swiss Cup]]: [[2009–10 Swiss Cup|2009–10]]

'''Vissel Kobe'''
*[[Emperor's Cup]]: [[2019 Emperor's Cup|2019]]
*[[Japanese Super Cup]]: [[2020 Japanese Super Cup|2020]]<ref name="JapaneseSuperCup">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/japanese-j1-league/story/4049174/andres-iniesta-lifts-japan-super-cup-after-nine-straight-pen-misses|title=Andres Iniesta lifts Japan Super Cup after nine straight pen misses|website=ESPN|date=8 February 2020|access-date=8 February 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{J.League manager}}

{{K.R.C. Genk squad}}
{{Belgian First Division A managers}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{FC Ingolstadt 04 managers}}
{{FC Basel managers}}
{{Hamburger SV managers}}
{{APOEL FC managers}}
{{FK Austria Wien managers}}
{{Grasshopper Club Zürich managers}}
{{Vissel Kobe managers}}
{{Al-Nasr SC managers}}
{{Sint-Truidense V.V. managers}}
{{K.R.C. Genk managers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fink, Thorsten}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:German men's footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Borussia Dortmund II players]]
[[Category:SG Wattenscheid 09 players]]
[[Category:Karlsruher SC players]]
[[Category:FC Bayern Munich footballers]]
[[Category:FC Bayern Munich II players]]
[[Category:German football managers]]
[[Category:German expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Japan]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Belgium]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Cyprus]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Japan]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Latvia]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Belgium]]
[[Category:FC Bayern Munich non-playing staff]]
[[Category:FC Ingolstadt 04 managers]]
[[Category:FC Basel managers]]
[[Category:Hamburger SV managers]]
[[Category:APOEL FC managers]]
[[Category:FK Austria Wien managers]]
[[Category:Grasshopper Club Zurich managers]]
[[Category:Vissel Kobe managers]]
[[Category:Riga FC managers]]
[[Category:Al-Nasr SC (Dubai) managers]]
[[Category:Sint-Truidense V.V. managers]]
[[Category:Regionalliga managers]]
[[Category:Swiss Super League managers]]
[[Category:Bundesliga managers]]
[[Category:Cypriot First Division managers]]
[[Category:Austrian Football Bundesliga managers]]
[[Category:J1 League managers]]
[[Category:Latvian Higher League managers]]
[[Category:UAE Pro League managers]]
[[Category:Belgian Pro League managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:Footballers from Dortmund]]
[[Category:West German men's footballers]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Latvia]]