Career
During a 14-year professional career, he appeared in nearly 400 Bundesliga games, mainly representing Schalke 04 (11 years), and later also briefly managing the latter. Büskens began his career with his hometown team Alemannia Düsseldorf, before he moved to city giants Fortuna. In 1992, Büskens moved to Football Club Schalke 04, and lived the most successful years of his career.
In the European conquest of 1997, he played in 10 matches (eight complete), including both legs of the final against F.C. Internazionale Milano.
In January 2000, Büskens spent half a season at MSV Duisburg, returning to Schalke after a poor season. He continued to play for the team until 2003, splitting between the first and second squads in his last year, also being assistant manager of the latter.
Schalke 04
In 2005, Büskens succeeded Gerhard Kleppinger as manager of the second squad. On 13 April 2008, he was appointed caretaker manager of Schalke"s first team, alongside another former club player, Youri Mulder, succeeding Mirko Slomka after a 1–5 away loss to SV Werder Bremen, as the team was battling for a Union of European Football Associations Champions League position (eventually reaching third).
Büskens remained in charge until the end of the season, being replaced by Dutch Fred Rutten in July.
However, in March 2009, the latter was fired, which led to the pair again taking over the side until the end of the season (now accompanied by another former Schalke player, Oliver Reck), being then replaced by Felix Magath, and released by the club on 23 June 2009. Greuther Fürth
Büskens was named manager of Greuther Fürth on 27 December 2009. Büskens was sacked on 20 February 2013.
Fortuna Düsseldorf
Büskens was named manager of Fortuna Düsseldorf on 4 June 2013.
Büskens picked Fabian Giefer to start the match instead of Michael Rensing. Rensing refused to be a substitute and left the stadium and went home.
Robin Heller subsequently took the substitutes bench. Büskens was sacked on 30 November 2013, a day after a 2–0 loss to Karlsruher South Carolina. Return to Greuther Fürth
He was hired for the second time on 23 February 2015.
His first match was a 2–1 loss against 1.
Football Club Kaiserslautern on 27 February 2015. Then on 7 March 2015, Fürth and VfR Aalen finished in a 1–1 draw. In a Bavarian derby, on 13 March 2015, Fürth lost 3–0 to 1860 München.
He re-signed on 28 May 2015.