Official | Hoffenheim retain sporting director Andreas Schicker amid Wolfsburg interest | OneFootball

In a surprising turn of events, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s board has convinced sporting director Andreas Schicker to remain with his current Bundesliga club. The makeshift club board held together by Christoph Henssler and Frank Engelhardtannounced that Schicker will be remaining in Sinsheim on Saturday. All parties involved have issued statements on the matter. 

Intensive courtship of Schicker by VfL Wolfsburg appeared to render the Austrian’s departure a forgone conclusion. Just a few days ago, it was reported that it was only a matter of the two German top division clubs agreeing on a transfer fee. High level discussions between Wolfsburg and Hoffenhiem took place midweek.

Kicker reports that the decisive factor in the ultimate decision was the veto of interim board co-chairman Christoph Henssler. This constitutes a major victory for the club faction looking to distance itself from the influence of controversial agent Roger Wittmann. Henssler is a former ultra and considered an extension of the fan scene. 

“I am delighted that Andreas Schicker wants to continue on the successful path of TSG,” Henssler noted in a club statement released on Saturday, “He has played a key role in shaping this club.” 

“We have had trusting and substantive discussions with Dietmar Hopp at the shareholder level,” Henssler’s co-chairman Engelhardt added. “After what have undoubtedly been turbulent weeks, it is important to all of us to return to stability, continuity, and calm.”

Wolfsburg, Schicker, and club patron Dietmar Hopp himself all released statements. Wolfsburg thanked Hoffenheim for “constructive discussions” and indicated they “respected Hoffenheim’s decision not to let him go.“

“I am honored by the interest shown by other clubs,” Schicker noted in his own statement. “It is a nice confirmation of the work we are doing here in Kraichgau. But the TSG shareholders have given me a clear perspective on continuing to work successfully here. We deliberately rebuilt the team in the summer. Now it’s important that we can work together without distraction.“

“The interest shown by various clubs speaks for Andreas Schicker’s qualities,” Hopp added. ”Under his leadership, our team has rediscovered its ‘TSG DNA’. The team is younger, and its football has become more attractive and successful. We hope that Andreas Schicker will continue to play a leading role in shaping this path for a long time to come.“

GGFN | Peter Weis