Sensation as sports director?
Klopp’s Liverpool apparently prefers “pensioner” Schmadtke
5/7/2023 8:36 am
Jörg Schmadtke has been in self-imposed retirement since the beginning of this year. The 59-year-old football manager wanted more time for his family. But that could soon be the end of it. Because Liverpool FC apparently wants to hire him as the new sports director and thus as Jürgen Klopp’s boss.
Jörg Schmadtke is apparently the preferred candidate for the vacant post of sports director at top English football club Liverpool FC. As the English newspaper “The Telegraph” reported, there have been intensive talks with team manager Jürgen Klopp’s club in the past few days. The newspaper described the development as a “shock”.
The 59-year-old Schmadtke has worked as a manager and previously as a player exclusively in Germany. He worked as a sports director or in a similar role at Alemannia Aachen, Hannover 96, 1. FC Köln and most recently at VfL Wolfsburg and had reached the European Cup with all clubs. At the end of January this year, he actually ended his career as an official and retired to private life.
At that time he told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that his wife Andrea would “take over the planning from now on, and she deserves it”. The couple wanted to “see a little bit of the world now.” However, he did not categorically rule out a return to business. He had said with amusement: “It could be that after three months I can’t stand it anymore or, much worse, that my wife will chase me out again”.
Klopp stressed “great personality”
Schmadtke has not previously worked with Klopp. When Schmadtke said goodbye to the Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung, Klopp said he would have “liked to experience it”. “I’m sure that would have fitted very well. For me he is a great personality.”
At Klopp’s club, the previous sports director Julian Ward announced his departure at the end of the season last November. Since then, the Reds have been looking for a successor, so far without success. At the end of a mixed season, Liverpool threatens to miss the Champions League. A major upheaval in the Reds roster is imminent.