Schäfer and Schindzielorz new strong duo at VfL

Created: 2022-09-26Updated: 2022-09-26 12:19 p.m

Marcel Schäfer, sports director at VfL Wolfsburg, speaks during an interview.

© Andreas Gora/dpa/archive image

Everything is new in the management of VfL Wolfsburg: As expected, the previous sports director Marcel Schäfer succeeds the outgoing managing director Jörg Schmadtke.

An old acquaintance moves to Schäfer's post.

Wolfsburg - The roles in the management of the Bundesliga soccer club VfL Wolfsburg are being redistributed.

The previous sports director Marcel Schäfer will replace the outgoing managing director Jörg Schmadtke in the coming year.

Former Wolfsburg professional Sebastian Schindzielorz, who worked as managing director of sports at league competitor VfL Bochum until September 1, will take over the post of sports director, as the club announced on Monday. The changes in the control center had changed in recent months Signed off: The 38-year-old Schäfer will become Managing Director Sport on February 1, 2023 and will receive a three-year contract.

"Following in Jörg Schmadtke's footsteps will be a big challenge," said the former Bundesliga defender.

"I've been working closely with Jörg for over four years and I'm very grateful

Schäfer played for VfL from 2007 to 2017 and joined the club's management a year later together with Schmadtke.

The player from the 2009 championship team was specifically built to succeed Schmadtke.

Schindzielorz was at VfL Wolfsburg from 2008 to 2013 and was also part of the championship team.

Also because of the good relationship that Schäfer and Schindzielorz are said to have had, the 43-year-old was considered the most promising candidate for the post of sports director. The 58-year-old Schmadtke will have a career spanning more than 20 years as a football manager after his contract expires on March 31 .Finish January.

The former Bundesliga goalkeeper moved to Wolfsburg in 2018 after stints at Alemannia Aachen, Hannover 96 and 1. FC Köln. The Schmadtke/Schäfer duo had great success with VfL for three years,

because together with the trainers Bruno Labbadia and Oliver Glasner they formed a Champions League participant from an almost relegated team.

Their transfers such as Wout Weghorst, Xaver Schlager, Maxence Lacroix or Ridle Baku initially hit almost without exception.

A turning point was the rift between Schmadtke and Glasner and the resulting departure of the Austrian to Eintracht Frankfurt.

The club separated from the two successors Mark van Bommel and Florian Kohfeldt after only a few months.

And under Niko Kovac, the third coach in 13 months, the Volkswagen Club is currently only second to bottom in the table.

Not much can be seen of the clear line of the first Schmadtke and Schäfer years.

The current squad clearly does not match the ideas of the new coach.

Max Kruse, who the club only signed as a key player for the relegation battle in January and who is now no longer allowed to play for VfL, is causing a lot of unrest in Wolfsburg.

Nevertheless, the trust in Schäfer in the supervisory board, which is largely made up of influential Volkswagen representatives, remains high.

Schmadtke had also repeatedly spoken out internally for the long-standing VfL professional as his successor.

dpa