Werder stick with Fritz as sporting managing director despite tough 2025/26 season | OneFootball

Werder Bremen have announced that Clemens Fritz will remain as managing director for sport after receiving the backing of the supervisory board.

In a statement on Sunday, Werder Bremen confirmed that Fritz will continue in his role after receiving backing from the supervisory board, despite a 2025/26 season that fell well below expectations.

Following the club’s 15th-place finish in the Bundesliga, the supervisory board stated:

"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.”

On the expectations for next season, the board added:

"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."