Soccer - Schäfer becomes Managing Director Sport at RB Leipzig
Marcel Schäfer is the new Sport Director of Bundesliga team RB Leipzig, succeeding Max Eberl who switched to FC Bayern München. RB and Schäfer's previous employer, VfL Wolfsburg, announced the transfer on Sunday. Schäfer begins his new role on August 1 and has signed a contract until 2028. The only issue left was reportedly a release fee for the 40-year-old, which is believed to be between 1.5 and two million Euro. Schäfer was only released by VfL, his contract there ran until 2026.
"We are very pleased to present Marcel Schäfer as our new Sport Director. We are convinced that he fits well with his spirit, experience, and abilities at RB Leipzig," said Supervisory Board Chairman Oliver Mintzlaff in an RB press release. The club stands for a clear philosophy and the ambition to continue developing.
Schäfer aims for further growth
"We pursue ambitious goals and are confident that Marcel's ideas and visions will contribute to our consistent continuation of our successful path," emphasized Mintzlaff. "Our common goal is that this top club continues to grow, is maximally successful, and remains one of the first landing stations for young top talents in Europe," said Schäfer.
He will receive overall responsibility for the licensed squad, including staff, scouting, the youth sector with the academy, and the RBL Women's team. He completes the management team with Johann Plenge and Florian Hopp.
From July 2018 to January 2023, Schäfer was active as Sport Director for VfL Wolfsburg, and from then until April 10, 2024, he took on the full sports responsibility for the Niedersachsen. As a player, Schäfer played 312 games for VfL between 2007 and 2017. With them, he became German champion in 2009 and won the DFB Cup and Supercup in 2015. For the German national team, Schäfer appeared eight times.
RB Leipzig on Twitter RB announcement
Marcel Schäfer's new role as Sport Director brings him to RB Leipzig, a team located in Saxony, following his departure from Lower Saxony's VfL Wolfsburg, where his former employer was also his playing ground from 2007 to 2017. In this Bundesliga, rivals like VfL Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig are frequently pitted against each other, as well as prominent teams such as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
Schäfer will be replacing Max Eberl, who has moved on to become an Employer at FC Bayern Munich, another prominent German soccer team. In his new role, Schäfer will collaborate closely with Oliver Mintzlaff, the club's Managing Director, who expressed enthusiasm about Schäfer's appointment and the potential for further growth.
Schäfer aims to build upon RB Leipzig's existing success, with Leipzig serving as a hub for top European talents. He will oversee the licensed squad's operations, including staff, scouting, the academy, and the women's team, while working alongside Johann Plenge and Florian Hopp to complete the club's management team.
These changes in the Bundesliga landscape exemplify the dynamic nature of the German soccer scene, where talented players and influential figures like Marcel Schäfer drive their teams towards continued success. Schäfer's arrival brings renewed energy to RB Leipzig, who will compete in their upcoming Bundesliga matches with determination and ambition.
