Overview
- Werder confirmed Sunday that former Dortmund and Bayern chief scout Markus Pilawa will lead squad planning, with predecessor Johannes Jahns released from duties and Pilawa starting work Wednesday.
- Clemens Fritz and Peter Niemeyer stay in their roles, with Fritz saying Pilawa’s experience and network will inject fresh ideas into scouting and deals.
- Fritz detailed a multi-candidate search supported by the consultancy Excel Sports Management, which will also review Werder’s internal workflows as Pilawa begins aligning plans with coach Daniel Thioune.
- Early calls include whether to extend Mitchell Weiser and trigger purchase options on several loanees, while reports say Werder is evaluating young Danish defender Julius Berthel Askou rather than moving on a deal.
- The shake-up follows a season in which fans demanded changes, and it comes as Werder seeks transfer income, with Jens Stage pondering a move and Fritz acknowledging a possible sale of goalkeeper Mio Backhaus.