Donata Hopfen is gone, but what’s next in the German Football League? If Hans-Joachim Watzke has his way, only with FC Bayern. Because the merger of the Bundesliga clubs is looking for a new boss after just one year. Bayern President Herbert Hainer already has ideas.
When Hans-Joachim Watzke spoke for 56 minutes about the reorganization of German football, his forehead was wrinkled throughout. The kingmaker wants to dispel concerns at DFB and DFL by joining forces – with Bayern Munich as a powerful ally in the fight against the crisis. “We have to join forces. FC Bayern is involved in all considerations,” said Watzke at the presentation of the new DFL leadership: “There is only one German football.”
The two Bundesliga managers Axel Hellmann (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Oliver Leki (SC Freiburg) should first manage the start of the German Football League (DFL). After the end of the previous boss Donata Hopfen, you will temporarily lead the professional association as a dual leadership on June 30, 2023. The final hop successor should be settled by then. Watzke also prefers two top executives.
“With the range of requirements, you can no longer deliver a one-man show,” said the 63-year-old, who is hoping for the symbiosis of an external and an internal candidate: “We will do something very revolutionary and look for the right candidates ourselves .”
The record champion should also contribute. “It is important that the largest and most successful club is involved,” said Watzke regarding his past talks with former Munich boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and current boss Oliver Kahn: “The simplest, most direct, most uncomplicated solution would be if Oliver Kahn is running for the presidency. Personally, I would be very happy about that.” This coincides with the statements made by Bayern President Herbert Hainer. He had previously stated that Kahn would like to get more involved.
For the time being, Freiburg CFO Leki and Frankfurt board spokesman Hellmann, both of whom already hold important positions in DFL committees, are to take care of the numerous problems of professional football. Both officials speak for their good club work. Both the Sport-Club and Eintracht stand for sporting success and sound management.
“We have to be able to act immediately. If someone had come from outside, the time we don’t have would have passed,” said Watzke: “Both have the absolute skills. I have great confidence. So we have time to create a sustainable to find a solution.”
Hopfen had to vacate her post on Wednesday after less than a year in office. The 46-year-old succeeded long-time boss Christian Seifert on January 1, and her contract originally ran until the end of 2024. Large parts of the DFL committees and the 36 professional clubs were dissatisfied with Hopfen’s work. This was mainly due to the fact that, according to their critics, they had not made any decisive progress on numerous construction sites such as the 50 1 rule, digitization, the entry of an investor, foreign marketing, the new basic contract with the DFB and the upcoming tender for media rights.
“We are in a challenging situation in German professional football, in which decisions have to be made that are of great importance for the future,” said Hellmann: “It goes without saying that I, together with Oliver Leki and a strong team face this challenge and take responsibility.”
Watzke, who sees the problems with 50 1 (“The rule is threatened”), an investor (“He has to bring us added value”) and foreign marketing (“We are not where we want to be”), also sees these challenges. clearly named. However, Watzke does not see himself as the sole problem solver, but as a team player: “I am a fervent democrat and follow what the majority of clubs want.” For the time being, however, everyone is guided by Watzke.