Saying "Adieu" with a chuckle: Baumann jokes about Füllkrug and Ducksch
With ten years under his belt as a player and nearly fourteen years in management for Werder Bremen, Frank Baumann, the former international, decided to part ways with the Bundesliga club last Sunday, leaving his friends with a hearty laugh. "No one would have believed that two unsightly birds could transform into two majestic eagles," Baumann quipped, referring to international strikers Niclas Füllkrug and Marvin Ducksch.
The duo, fondly known as "the ugly birds," played together for Werder for two seasons. Füllkrug and Ducksch made their debut as a team in Germany's match against Turkey on Saturday night (2:3).
The 48-year-old Baumann is set to retire as the club's sporting director at the end of this season. When asked about his decision to sign Füllkrug and Ducksch, who had been transferred to Borussia Dortmund the previous summer, Baumann acknowledged it as one of the best decisions of his nearly six-year tenure, which began in 2016.
Baumann also stood by the club's head coach Ole Werner in the face of mild criticism following the team's weak start to the Bundesliga season. "If we were looking for a coach now, we would choose Ole Werner without hesitation. He fits Werder perfectly," Baumann asserted.
Baumann's successful recruitment and developing partnership of Niclas Füllkrug and Marvin Ducksch, once colloquially referred to as "the ugly birds," has played a substantial role in his tenure as Werder Bremen's sporting director. Despite Füllkrug's departure to Borussia Dortmund last summer, the two continued to shine on the German national team, demonstrating their transformation into "beautiful eagles."
General Insights:
The success of players like Niclas Füllkrug and Marvin Ducksch can significantly impact a team's performance and the sporting director's reputation. If these players have demonstrated effective teamwork, it could reinforce the team's performance and stability, ultimately underscoring the sporting director's leadership abilities.
If Baumann posits that Füllkrug and Ducksch's partnership has been successful, it suggests his capacity to identify and maximize the strengths of individual players within the team. The unique dynamic between "the ugly birds" could have served as a formidable striking force, enhancing the team's overall performance.
