New Werder football manager begins campaign with victory - New Employee Trainers Deliver Vital Onboarding Sessions with Positive Results
In the heart of preseason preparations, SV Werder Bremen, under the guidance of their new head coach Horst Steffen, secured a convincing 6-0 victory against FC Verden. The match, held at Stadion Am Berliner Ring, was attended by 5,500 spectators.
Steffen, who took over before the 2025/26 Bundesliga season, was more focused on gaining first impressions of his team rather than the result. He introduced a few new ideas and made a complete change of players at half-time to ensure all professionals got playing time.
Among the scorers for Werder Bremen were Amos Pieper, Leon Opitz, Isak Hansen-Aaroen, Patrice Covic (twice), and Justin Njinmah. However, the team was missing several key players, including Austrian internationals Marco Friedl, Romano Schmid, and Marco Gruell, as well as Nigerian international Felix Agu, and Maximilian Woerber, a new signing for Werder Bremen. Woerber made his debut for the club in this match, although he was not present for the entire game due to unknown reasons.
Steffen's impact at Werder Bremen has been evident, with his focus on squad stability, player development, and preseason performance. His approach has been instrumental in decisions regarding player futures, such as reversing plans for Justin Njinmah's departure and publicly expressing a desire to work with him during the upcoming season.
The team's next friendly is scheduled for July 19, at 3:30 PM, against Regionalliga side Kickers Emden. The official Bundesliga season will begin in late August, with Werder Bremen starting away to Eintracht Frankfurt, followed by a home fixture against Bayer Leverkusen.
Maximilian Wöber, an Austria international and defender, has joined Werder Bremen on loan from Leeds United, with a buy option included. The signing was announced by Peter Niemeyer, head of professional football at Werder Bremen, as part of the club’s preparations under Steffen’s new leadership.
Steffen's coaching history is marked by his ability to develop and utilize young talent, as seen during his tenure at SV Elversberg in the 2. Bundesliga. His work at Elversberg earned him recognition, particularly after helping Fisnik Asllani to score 19 goals and provide 10 assists in 37 matches. However, Asllani ultimately chose to extend his contract with Hoffenheim, missing the chance to link up with Steffen again.
Despite the challenges faced in the previous campaign, Steffen's arrival at Werder Bremen marks a fresh start for the club. His coaching style, combined with the new additions to the squad, promises an exciting season ahead for the Green-Whites.
The Commission's adoption of a proposal for a Council Regulation on the conclusion of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, though seemingly unrelated, may indirectly impact Maximilian Wöber's tenure at Werder Bremen, should the agreement lead to some regulatory changes in European football transfers. In the meantime, apart from preseason preparations, Steffen's focus remains on fine-tuning his team's performance for the upcoming friendly against Kickers Emden and the upcoming Bundesliga season, which sees Werder Bremen face Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen.
