Football-Bundesliga - Hoffenheim clears out: Three managers away from Rosen
The sudden ending point for the Alexander Rosen era and the departure of two more business managers at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: Three weeks before the Bundesliga football season start, the Hopp Club made a personnel roundabout change in the management team. After over twelve years, Manager Rosen, who had continuously risen through the ranks at the TSG, was asked to vacate his position with immediate effect. The 45-year-old still had a contract until summer 2025.
Divergent opinions
The shareholders of the Football Business GmbH reportedly made a unanimous decision to dismiss Rosen from his position, according to a club statement. While the pros are currently preparing for the new season with the Pokal opener against the Würzburger Kickers on August 16, the club, led by Dietmar Hopp, is sportingly speaking, leaderless for the time being. The powerful patron and billionaire himself has not yet commented.
The separation from Rosen was attributed to Simone Engelhardt, who represents the majority shareholder as interim chairman of the registered association. "Our opinions on the future direction were ultimately too different, even with regard to the upcoming season, in which the TSG will once again play internationally and participate in the Europa League," Engelhardt said. Rosen was not quoted in the statement.
No more tenures
However, Rosen is not the only business manager who will not keep his position. Denni Strich and Jan Mayer will also no longer be in this role. Strich requested the termination of his contract on October 31 of this year, it was reported. Mayer is said to focus more on work at the TSG ResearchLab in the future.
A year ago, the club described it as an "obvious step" to anchor the sports responsibility directly in the club leadership - now all three managers appointed as business managers last summer have left. Markus Schütz, who only joined the club this summer, is the only one left.
"The club is broad and strong enough to internally absorb and successfully handle the upcoming tasks," Engelhardt said. The upcoming tasks after the departure of three business managers are enormous. They include, among other things, the squad and transfer planning of a club that has not made a single signing this summer.
Rosen kept Matarazzo in place
The gap left by industry expert Rosen is significant. The former player became a face of the Bundesligist in the Kraichgau. He promoted Julian Nagelsmann, the absolute rookie coach, to head coach.
Rosen kept Pellegrino Matarazzo in place during a difficult phase in the relegation fight. The wage was the entry into the Europa League the following season.
Schicker brought early clarity
Opinions on Rosen within the club varied significantly in the younger past. The TSG is known as an excellent training ground that produces outstanding talents like EM participant Maximilian Beier and then sells them profitably. On the other hand, Sportchef Schicker had made some expensive transfer flops after high earnings through sales in recent times.
Rosen was promoted to the managing director only one year ago, but there were always rumors about his dismissal. In May, the TSG actively courted Andreas Schicker from Sturm Graz for so long that the sports chief finally made a public statement and announced his commitment to Austria's champion. He wanted to create clarity early, Schicker said. Exactly that is what TSG has missed in the past few weeks and months.
- With the departure of Rosen, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim will be lacking a key figure in the football world of Baden-Württemberg, particularly in the field of soccer.
- Despite the sudden change in management, Hoffenheim will still participate in the Future Bundesliga, aiming to defend their position and potentially advance in the Europa League.
- Dietmar Hopp, the influential shareholder and patron of Hoffenheim, has yet to comment on the decision to part ways with Rosen, leaving the club's leadership in a state of uncertainty.
- Andrej Kramaric, a renowned player for Hoffenheim, may find himself in a more significant role as the club navigates this period of change, with the upcoming Bundesliga season in Sinsheim.
- Jan Mayer, who will focus more on TSG ResearchLab, was one of the other three business managers who parted ways with the club, leaving only Markus Schütz in the leadership team.
- Hoffenheim's quest to find a suitable replacement for Rosen and ensure a successful transition will be challenging, considering that the club has yet to make any signings for the upcoming season.
- Rosen's influence on the team extended beyond promotions, as he negotiated Julian Nagelsmann's appointment as the new coach and kept Pellegrino Matarazzo in place during the relegation fight.
- As the club tries to overcome this critical period, the recruitment of Schicker was expected to bring early clarity and stability to the management team, a clarity that was sorely missed in the recent weeks and months.
