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WERDER.DE: Frank, your departure is drawing ever closer and soon your day-to-day focus will turn from Werder Bremen to the Baumann family. Do you feel emotionally ready to leave?
Frank Baumann has opted against extending his current contract with SV Werder Bremen and will leave his post as sporting director upon its expiration in summer 2024.
Göz AtınFor all the details, click here ▶️ https://t.co/hK2fpxGSWM#werderpic.twitter.com/ozsQim0Qw7
— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) November 1, 2023
WERDER.DE: When you made your decision, things weren’t going too well on the pitch and Ole Werner was also being criticised. Were there any moments when you thought it might be best to wait a bit longer?
Frank Baumann: Yes, of course I questioned whether it was the right time. My aim was to give Werder the best possible handover, and make sure we’re well-off enough both on and off the pitch. We knew that the season might get off to a rocky start, but I had absolute confidence in the coaching staff. At the time, no-one would have predicted a top-half finish for us, which makes it even better that we were able to achieve the things we set out to.
WERDER.DE: You mentioned promotion, now let’s get onto relegation. You could say that it was a turning point not only for Werder Bremen, but also for you personally. How difficult did you find that period of time?
Frank Baumann: The pressure of relegation is even worse than battling for a spot in the national team or for the league title. You feel a sense of responsibility for it, as a relegation battle is taxing for everyone involved – not only for the players, but also for the fans. We also experienced some financial struggles during the pandemic, which made things even more difficult. Relegation is something that can you can fix, a potential bankruptcy is not, so the two mixed together was certainly challenging. It wasn’t easy, but it helps when you’ve got family by your side. The fact that we’re so united at Werder naturally also made a huge difference, because if things were different, we may not have been able to have come out the other side of it.
WERDER.DE: Is there anything you’d like to share with the fans, players or colleagues who have supported you along the way?
Frank Baumann: A huge thanks to the fans for their support, but also to the fantastic team I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the last 25 years. I still have colleagues who were here 25 years ago. That shows what a special club Werder is – one that is supported by special people. A big thank you to everyone for your support, especially through the tough times. I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
