After three winless games in a row, Mülheimer FC 97 was able to celebrate a victory again. And all this in front of the new sporting director, who has big plans.

3:2 against VfB Hilden! A strong performance by coach Ahmet Inal’s team last Sunday ensured that Mülheim FC 97 is now three points above the relegation zone.

The new sporting director also saw the good performance. Muharem Dzudzevic has been in charge of sporting matters at MFC for a few days now. Dzudzevic, who is the managing director of E.H.G Hochbau GmbH, had previously been involved with the Mülheim Oberliga club as a sponsor. Now the 37-year-old businessman has also taken over as sporting director at MFC.

Forecasting spoke to the ambitious Dzudzevic.

Muharem Dzudzevic on…

… his new position as sporting director: “First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the entire board, all club members, and our loyal fans. The trust you have placed in me by appointing me as sporting director means an incredible amount to me. When the opportunity arose to take on this role, I didn’t have to think twice and accepted immediately. It is a great honor to embark on this journey together with the club and build something special.”

… the team: “Against Hilden, I felt like I was watching eleven new players on the pitch. It was different from the previous weeks. We have to keep it up. I also made a clear statement to the team during my presentation earlier this week. They know what my plans are here. To realize them, we need players who are fully committed and who will help us both on and off the pitch. It’s also about polishing up the club’s reputation. I don’t want to see any cliques forming or pointless discussions on the pitch. That worked very well in the first game against Hilden. We will strengthen the team with up to five new players in the winter so that we can avoid relegation and then go on the offensive in the summer of 2025.”

The regional league is the goal. With all due respect to our opponents, I don’t think the Oberliga Niederrhein is too strong. Every year, three to four teams compete for promotion. We want to be among them in the near future.

Muharem Dzudzevic, new sporting director of MFC 97

.. Coach Ahmet Inal: “Ahmet is doing an excellent job here, which we appreciate. Until now, he hasn’t been able to fully develop because there were always people who wanted to have a say. That’s over now. Only the coach and the sporting director are responsible for the sport. We will work closely and confidentially with each other.”

… his goals with MFC: “The task of giving the club a stable foundation and strengthening team spirit fills me with joy and motivation. Our first goal this season is to secure our place in the Oberliga – that’s where all our energy is focused. After that, we want to establish ourselves in the league and grow steadily together. The long-term goal is the Regionalliga. With all due respect to our opponents, I don’t consider the Oberliga Niederrhein to be too strong. Every year, three to four teams compete for promotion. We want to be among them in the near future. I’m looking forward to promoting young talent as sporting director, implementing a well-thought-out squad planning strategy, and developing a strong team culture in which every player can flourish both on and off the pitch.”

… on his company and his projects beyond soccer: “In addition to my professional activities, it is very important to me to support various social projects with my team at the company—these include animal welfare organizations, animal shelters, and other associations that we passionately support as sponsors. We share these values as a family, and the new role here at the club is a very special milestone for us. My children, who are enthusiastic soccer players themselves, are eagerly awaiting this new chapter with me and are proud that their father has the opportunity to make a difference in the Oberliga. For all of us, this is more than just a job—it’s a dream come true, and I look forward to pursuing this path with dedication.”