Supervisory board backs Clemens Fritz after season review

The supervisory board of SV Werder Bremen GmbH & Co KG aA expressed its clear support for Clemens Fritz at its latest meeting. Following the board’s season review, there was a 9-0 vote in favour of the Green-Whites’ managing director for sport. In the following statement, the board explains its decision, assesses the season and outlines its expectations of Clemens Fritz and for the upcoming campaign:

We have come through a difficult season, which we cannot be satisfied with. As the supervisory board, we were aware that this campaign would be marked by significant ups and downs due to the strategic realignment in the summer, the change of head coach to Horst Steffen and the implementation of a new playing style. However, the way the season unfolded fell short of our expectations and the standards we had set. Mistakes were made in terms of planning and implementation, and there were also some misjudgements in our transfer policy. Unfortunately, the desired effect of the coaching change to Horst Steffen in the summer did not materialise either.

Clemens Fritz clearly identified and analysed these mistakes and, where possible, corrected them during the season. Under enormous pressure, Clemens Fritz succeeded in making the right call on the appointment of Daniel Thioune as head coach through a short-term but professional process. Daniel stabilised the team and secured Bundesliga survival.

Clemens demonstrated management qualities during a major crisis and implemented measures during the season to significantly improve processes and coordination. By appointing Markus Pilawa as head of squad planning, he has also made an important personnel decision designed to bring fresh impetus to scouting and squad planning. This will be supported by the expansion of data-driven analysis tools, which will help drive further professionalisation.

Mio Backhaus’ transfer shows that Werder are capable of developing players at the very highest level, building value and generating the necessary transfer income for the financial stability of our club. Clemens has shown here that he acts responsibly and with a clear focus from a financial perspective, while also bringing in an excellent successor in Karl Hein. The transfer also shows that intensive work is being done on the make-up of the squad and that key decisions are being made early. On the basis of all these measures, decisions and the development Clemens has shown in recent months, we as a supervisory board have unanimously expressed our support for him.

Werder Bremen will continue on the path of integrating young players into our Bundesliga squad, building value and moving the club forward. The signings of Kenny Quetant and highly rated talents Karlo Simic and Darwin Soylu represent further important steps in this direction.

Despite a significantly changed squad, we expect stable development, consistency and a cutting edge in attack next season. We expect a team that is put together to be competitive and that excites people with good energy, great passion and an attacking style of play. Specific sporting targets and ambitions will be defined once squad planning for the new season has been completed. The first priority is to create the right structural and personnel conditions for stable development. We are convinced that, with Clemens Fritz as managing director for sport, we are very well placed and on the right track.