Krüger officially unveiled: ‘She’s exactly right for HSV’ | OneFootball

For several weeks now, Kathleen Krüger has already been working behind the scenes as HSV’s new board member for sport. Officially, however, she only took office on July 1.

Accordingly, interest was high when Krüger presented herself to fans and media representatives for the first time on Wednesday as part of a press conference. At first, however, supervisory board chairman Michael Papenfuß and club president Henrik Köncke spoke.

In a direct address to Krüger, Papenfuß once again explained why the club’s leadership had placed its trust in her. “You combine organizational talent, strategic planning, and human warmth,” said Papenfuß. “That came across in our conversations, and you convinced us. With the qualities you bring, we are 100 percent sure we have made the right decision.”

Köncke struck a similar note: “The more we got to know you, the clearer it became to us that you are exactly the right person for HSV. You will leave your mark on HSV with your personality.”

Photo: IMAGO

Krüger explains HSV vision: “It can be hugely identity-forming”

Krüger, who has already been working at the Volkspark for several days, then took the floor herself. “The first week has been exactly as I had hoped,” she said. “I was welcomed at the office openly, warmly, and with a lot of energy. For me, the first step now is to listen so that we can write the next chapter together.”

She also outlined her vision for the coming months and years. “We want to continue developing the first team structurally, but also steadily strengthen youth development. It can be enormously identity-forming to see homegrown talents playing at the Volksparkstadion,” Krüger explained. The 41-year-old, who at FC Bayern was responsible among other things for work at the campus, had already looked closely at HSV before her move and had regularly sought exchanges with club officials. “I was very positively surprised by that,” she said.

Krüger has a particularly close connection with sporting director Claus Costa. The two know each other from joint management courses and have also remained in regular contact in recent years. “Claus and I have known each other since 2021. We’ve kept exchanging ideas,” Krüger said. “I reached out to him early in the selection process. He is one of my most important confidants. He brings unbelievable passion to his role as sporting director. That’s what I build on at the strategic level.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.