Career
Knäbel was head coach of Nationalliga B side Football Club Winterthur until 2000. Knäbel is the Sporting Director of Hamburger SV. He also became the interim head coach of the club on 22 March 2015 after Josef Zinnbauer was sacked. He became the 19th head coach of Hamburg since 2000.
In his debut, on 4 April 2015, Hamburg lost to Bayer Leverkusen 4–0.
In the second match, on 11 April 2015, Hamburg lost to VfL Wolfsburg 2–0 and dropped down into the relegation zone. He was replaced on 15 April 2015 with Bruno Labbadia.
He had lost both matches as head coach and failed to score in either match. As of 11 April 2015.