Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume will join the supervisory board of VfL Wolfsburg on January 1, the Bundesliga club has announced. Meanwhile, the desired sporting director has declined the position.
VfL Wolfsburg Fußball GmbH is wholly owned by the automotive group. The supervisory board of the Bundesliga club has also always been dominated by leading VW managers. However, this is the first time that the CEO of Volkswagen AG has been a member of this body.
Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume will join the supervisory board of VfL Wolfsburg on January 1.
“This is a significant step that further strengthens the close connection between the group and the club – a great signal,” said Sebastian Rudolph. The chairman of the VfL supervisory board is head of corporate communications at Volkswagen in his main job. The 57-year-old Blume says he is delighted “to be part of the green and white family. VfL has close ties to Volkswagen, the city of Wolfsburg, and the region. The club makes an important contribution to the location – in terms of sport, society and the promotion of young talent,” he said. Wolfsburg are currently only in 15th place in the Bundesliga. In the midst of the club’s sporting crisis, the supervisory board is currently busy looking for a new sporting director to succeed Sebastian Schindzielorz, who has been released from his duties.
According to information from “Kicker,” after failing to sign their preferred candidate Andreas Schicker from 1899 Hoffenheim, VfL has now also been turned down by sporting director Marcus Mann from Hannover 96.
Instead, the 41-year-old wants to help the second division club return to the first division.
Mann has been working in Hannover since 2021 and was promoted from sporting director to sporting director this year. His contract is valid until 2029. Before this season, he completely revamped the 96 squad. The Lower Saxony club is currently fourth in the second division.
It remains to be seen who the crisis-stricken “Wolves” will present as their new sporting director.