Following Werner's split, Steffen has taken center stage.
Werder Bremen Set to Appoint Horst Steffen as New Coach
Bremen - Following Ole Werner's decision not to renew his contract, SV Werder Bremen is poised to appoint Horst Steffen as the club's new head coach. Steffen, aged 56, is currently in charge of SV Elversberg, where he has led the team from the Regionalliga to the relegation playoffs and nurtured talents such as Paul Wanner.
According to reports in Bild, Steffen has given his promise to Werder Bremen and could be presented to the media as early as this Thursday. The potential severance payment for Steffen, still bound to Elversberg until 2026, is said to be in the low six-figures.
Clemens Fritz, the football manager of Werder, expressed regret over Werner's departure but recognized the need for clear leadership moving forward. Alongside Werner, co-trainers Patrick Kohlmann, Tom Cichon, and Hannes Drews were also released.
Werner himself acknowledged the difficulty of not extending his contract, stating that changes were necessary to enable further development at the club. He informed the club of his decision after three and a half years of service, during which Werder consistently developed and stabilized in the Bundesliga.
The club expects to announce a new coach this week. Steffen's appointment reflects Werder's swift response to Werner's departure and paves the way for the club's preparations for the upcoming season.
As the coaching market in German professional football experiences turbulence, Werder Bremen finds itself among other Bundesliga clubs such as Augsburg, Wolfsburg, Leipzig, and newly-promoted Cologne looking for a new head coach. In the 2. Bundesliga, Hannover and Schalke are also on the hunt for a new manager.
Steffen brings extensive experience and a coaching style that aligns with Werder's ambitions to a club with a rich history in European competition. As a former professional, Fritz praised Werner's consistent development of the team, mentioning his significant contribution to Werder's successful stabilization in the Bundesliga.
The return to international competition remains the great desire of Werder's fans and club officials, with Werner's development potentially not fast enough in some areas due to differences in opinion over squad planning and future sporting ambitions. In recent years, several transfers have not gone as planned, including high-profile misunderstandings surrounding former players such as Naby Keita and Skelly Alvero.
Horst Steffen, the current coach of SV Elversberg, might lead Werder Bremen's football team, given his promise to the club as reported by Bild. If appointed, Steffen could help Werder Bremen, known for its rich history in European sports, return to international competition, aligning with the club's ambitions in sports.
