Ex-Leeds goalkeeper axed by Marcelo Bielsa enters politics before local elections | OneFootball

Former Leeds United goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald, cut four days into Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure, has entered politics before September’s local elections in Germany.

He joined from Werder Bremen in 2017 on a three-year deal, playing 28 Championship games under Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom. He lost his place to Bailey Peacock-Farrell in March 2018 and left soon after Bielsa arrived.

He finished his career in Germany, retiring in 2022 at 32. Now 36, he scouts for Werder Bremen and is running for the Christian Democratic Union in Verden’s city council elections.

“I went all in right away,” he said. “I registered with the CDU local branch and let them know I'd like to get involved. So many people complain, but only a few actually get involved in politics and take on responsibility. That's different for me!” He was speaking to the Kreiszeitung media group.

He is part of CDU mayoral candidate Björn Symank’s campaign team and attends party group meetings. There has been no suggestion he will leave his Werder role.

Since retiring he completed a two-year programme with Werder and studied sports management in Switzerland, and he is heavily invested in real estate.

“I'm a full-time scout in squad planning at Werder Bremen,” he added. “It's a full-time job. But, like many other politicians, I want to make the time for it. I don't like everything about the CDU, but that's normal in a democracy. And at the local level, it's all about working together to make a difference anyway.”

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk