Frank Baumann will be the new sports director at FC Schalke 04!

Frank Baumann will be the new sports director at FC Schalke 04!

Gelsenkirchen, Deutschland - FC Schalke 04 has a new sports director. Frank Baumann, a former defensive midfielder, takes over this position. His career as a professional led him to a total of 360 competitive games for SV Werder Bremen. After entering Werder Bremen's management in 2010, he held several functions there. Most recently, he was Managing Director of Sport from 2016 to 2024 before he got involved in the new challenge at Schalke. Baumann is expected to take office in Gelsenkirchen at the end of June 2025, since the last talks are still underway.

The Schalke finding commission unanimously chose Baumann, who was able to prevail against Jochen Sauer, the head of the youth department at Bayern. His experience, his test of crisis and his team player mentality convinced him. Schalke's association is planning a long-term cooperation and offered him a five-year contract.

The role of the sports director

The importance of the sports director in professional football cannot be underestimated. This position is crucial because it acts as the most important contact person for the coaching team, staff, player and the medical department. In addition, the sports director is a central interface between the club, the league organization and the association. According to dfb-akademie.de , the sports director is responsible for the strategic orientation of the entire sporting area.

Important task areas include the management, transfers and contract negotiations. In his new office, Baumann will be required to implement overarching game philosophy and to represent the sporting success of FC Schalke 04 in front of the media, fans and sponsors.

The combination of Baumann's earlier gaming experience and his extensive management work at Werder Bremen indicates that he is well equipped to master the challenges in Gelsenkirchen. Baumann starts an important and responsible task with a clear plan and the goal of leading the club back to old strength.