Jörg Schmadtke returns to German professional football and plays for the second division club Hannover 96 the successor of Marcus Mann to. The 61-year-old, who shaped the most successful period in the club’s recent history from 2009 to 2013, will take on responsibility for the licensed team and the 96 Academy as sports director. The club announced this.
“I’m very happy to be back and to take up my role at Hannover 96. Now it’s about getting to work quickly,” said Schmadtke: “First of all, I would like to quickly get a comprehensive picture and will have a lot of discussions to get to know the internal processes, structures and perspectives.”
Mann (41) is moving to Austria after four and a half years in Hanover – as sports director from June 2021 and as managing director since March 2025 Red Bull Salzburg. It was agreed not to disclose the terms of the transfer. As the Lower Saxony company announced, the change in management will take place at the turn of the year. Schmadtke will receive a contract up to and including February 28, 2029 Henning Bindzus (42) will act as commercial director as before.
In Schmadtke’s first term at 96, the club finished the 2010/11 Bundesliga season in fourth place, and the team also played in the Europa League in the following two years. After his departure, Schmadtke worked at 1. FC Cologne and VfL Wolfsburguntil February 2024 he was most recently the sports director of the Liverpool FC employed. (sid)
