News Articles > Thank You and Goodbye Christopher Schindler

Thank You and Goodbye Christopher Schindler

11/05/2021

29th June 2016, the day Huddersfield Town smashed their transfer record to bring in a 26-year-old German defender for £1.8 million. His name was Christopher Wolfgang Georg August Schindler who was brought in to replace Joel Lynch who had recently departed for QPR. He made his debut on the 6th August 2016, as Town beat Brentford 2-1 at home on the opening day of the 2016/17 season. The impact of Wagner's new signings, with Schindler at the helm of defence was easy to see. They finished the previous season with a 4-0 away loss at Bristol City and a humiliating 5-1 defeat at home on the last day of the previous season to Brentford. So the 2-1 victory showed the change in direction and fortunes at the club. He formed an initial partnership with then club captain Mark Hudson, before making one with Michael Hefele, to form an all-German partnership. Schindy scored two key goals in that season against Ipswich home and away, but he is always going to be remembered as the man who stroked home the winning penalty at Wembley. The penalty was a true reflection of the sort of player he was. He took responsibility for the team, the club and the Town. He cost more money than any other player had ever cost Town before and as a result he decided he should be the man to take the 5th penalty, in his own words: 'I had a duty to give a bit of value back to you.'

That first Premier League season

For as good as he was in the promotion-winning campaign, he was at a different level in the first season in the Premier League. Three clean sheets in the first three games and in that time, Huddersfield sat top of the Premier League after the opening day. Chris asserted himself as a key players towards Town's survival hopes. He again had to adapt next to a new partner, and he did it with ease, he and Zanka notched up 10 clean sheets as Town did the unthinkable and stayed up against all odds. After an emphatic first season in the Prem, Chris signed a new 3-year-deal to waive off interest from elsewhere after winning the supporters player of the year.

Captain Fantastic.

The second season in the Premier League did not go to plan but Schindy was consistent throughout, he was promoted to captain under Jan Siewert, while also getting his first Premier League goal against Burnley. In a season of so much disappointment, Schindler remained a model professional and fought until the very end, with him becoming the first player since Peter Clarke to win back to back player of the year awards.

The catalyst for survival.

The first season back in the Championship was the third sustained relegation battle in a row, and while Town used their fourth manager in 9 months, Schindler remained in the team and captain throughout, he adapted and changed his style to suit the team and managers needs. Having played 45 out of 45 matches in the 2019/20 season and having played every minute in that season up to that point, Schindler looked set to join an elite club of players to play every minute in a Championship season. Alex Smithies was the last Town player to do so, but even though he was named in the starting 11, he had to pull out due to toothache minutes before kick-off and in doing so making me look like an idiot on Twitter, having tweeted out that stat just hours beforehand. Securing Championship status on matchday 45, you could see what it meant to Hogg and Schindler, two players who had seen it all as Town players and an unlikely friendship had formed. Schindler revealed in an interview with HTTV, that he will be back to play in Jonathan Hogg's testimonial in two year's time, with the now de facto club captain having invited him to play in it.

The End.

An injury-stricken 5th season at Town brought the curtains down early on what was a truly exceptional Town career and while he has not yet received the send-off he deserves, I am sure one day it will happen. Chris leaves Town having played 184 games, scored 5 goals, 6 assists, contributed to 44 clean sheets and played 75 games as captain.
But above all, a Huddersfield Town Legend.
Come on Phil, it is time to build that statue!