Four players missing from the start of training | OneFootball

The squad form a team circle at the opening training session (Photo: W.DE).

Werder’s squad for the beginning of pre-season

Pre-season preparations have begun for SV Werder Bremen ahead of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, with four players unavailable to head coach Horst Steffen and his staff during the opening training session on Monday, 07.07.2025.

Goalkeeper Stefan Smarkalev missed the start of training since he still had to undergo performance tests. Furthermore, the four senior internationals Felix Agu, Marco Friedl, Romano Schmid and Marco Grüll will all not return until 15th July. Besides them, all other members of the Green-Whites squad were available.

Head coach Horst Steffen: „The first training session at a new club is something special, of course, but I am not getting carried away as I knew that already. The boys were able to get back on the ball and we looked to implement some attacking ideas we have. A new coach brings newfound vigour and we aim to do our best from the get-go.”

Managing director for sport Clemens Fritz: “It has always been the case for me that the excitement ahead of pre-season ramps up in the days before. It’s hard to get into it at the beginning because the intensity is increased only as training continues. But to get back into the daily routine, you have to lay the foundations for a successful season. You can tell that the lads, the coaching team and wider staff are looking forward to it.”

Pre-season squad overview

Goalkeepers: Mio Backhaus, Markus Kolke, Stefan Smarkalev, Michael Zetterer

Defenders: Felix Agu, Karim Coulibaly, Olivier Deman, Marco Friedl, Julian Malatini, Amos Pieper, Mick Schmetgens, Niklas Stark, Maximilian Wöber

Midfielders/Forwards: Wesley Adeh, Skelly Alvero, Leonardo Bittencourt, Patrice Covic, Marvin Ducksch, Marco Grüll, Isak Hansen-Aarøen, Dawid Kownacki, Senne Lynen, Salim Musah, Justin Njinmah, Leon Opitz, Dikeni Salifou, Romano Schmid, Jens Stage, Keke Topp, Mitchell Weiser