Oberliga soccer club Rot Weiss Ahlen has found a successor for coach René Lewejohann. The new man on the sidelines comes from a rival club in the league.
It’s now official. Marcel Stöppel will be the new coach of Westphalian Oberliga club Rot Weiss Ahlen.
René Lewejohann’s successor comes from league rivals TuS Hiltrup and has signed a contract at Werse until summer 2027 with an option for a further year.
“It was important for us to find a coach who knows the region and identifies with the club. Marcel comes from Beckum, lives just around the corner, so to speak, and knows what Rot Weiss Ahlen means. He is young, hungry, and works in a very structured way with a clear perspective. That’s exactly the profile we were looking for,” said RWA president Dietmar Kupfernagel.
A few days ago, Lewejohann accepted an offer from regional league club 1. FC Bocholt, leaving the second-to-last team in the Oberliga Westfalen without a coach. Ahlen also recruited from another club during the current season.
“After René Lewejohann’s surprise departure, we had to reorient ourselves at short notice,” said sporting director Dennis Kocker, adding: “We were aware that the situation was not easy for TuS Hiltrup. That’s why we communicated openly and transparently at all times until the contract was signed. Even though there were differences of opinion, the exchange was always fair. This made it all the more important for us to secure Marcel’s long-term commitment – with a contract and an option that provides planning security.”
Stöppel, who has been coaching TuS Hiltrup since 2022 and led them to the Oberliga in 2024/2025, is no stranger to Ahlen. He was already the U19 coach between 2017 and 2019. And he clearly left a lasting impression. Marcel had been on our agenda for a long time – even before we signed René Lewejohann. We have been watching his work very closely for years and appreciate his professional quality and development. It was clear to us that we didn’t want a temporary solution or a coach for six months. We wanted someone who could help us stay in the league and then work with us to build a team that would allow us to attack again,” emphasized sporting director Luka Tankulic.
The 32-year-old coach, who will officially take up his post on Saturday, January 3, said of his new job: “I am very happy to be back here. It was quickly clear to me that if I took this step, it would only be with Rot Weiss Ahlen. I am aware that we have a lot of work ahead of us here – that’s why my motto is: work more, talk less. At the same time, I would like to express my sincere thanks to TuS Hiltrup. It is a great club where I felt very comfortable. The decision to come to Ahlen was a conscious decision to take on this task and this responsibility.”