Rot-Weiss Essen are planning for the new season after their near-perfect third-division league finish. The latest personnel decision is likely to cause a stir in the fan environment.
Marcus Steegmann, Rot-Weiss Essen’s squad planner, announced it to RevierSport this week:
Personnel talks will be held in the next few days, and after Saturday’s game (6 May, 2 p.m., RevierSport live ticker) at SV Meppen, the first personnel decisions could be officially announced.
One personnel matter has already leaked out. RevierSport has learned that Felix Herzenbruch will not receive a new contract at Hafenstraße.
The fan favourite confirmed this to this editorial team on Thursday morning, 4 May: “Yes, that is unfortunately true and I was told on Wednesday morning. Of course I am mega disappointed. I was hoping until Wednesday that I would receive a new contract offer after this decent season. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Now I have to think about my future. “
This decision was not easy for us, he is a great person and has great merits for RWE. We have another idea in defence for the future, so it was a decision for something new, not against ‘Herze’.
Marcus Steegmann
The 30-year-old defender, who has been used as both a left-back and centre-back for RWE, has been used in 28 league games this season (one goal, no assist) by coach Christoph Dabrowski. He was even in the starting eleven 24 times. Despite consistently solid performances, he no longer plays a role in the plans of the coach and the sporting management around squad planner Steegmann and sporting director Christian Flüthmann.
The Wuppertal native made a total of 107 appearances for Rot-Weiss Essen (five goals, seven assists). Only in the jersey of Rot-Weiß Oberhausen (117 games) has he played more often. He will not reach this number again in the RWE dress.
Marcus Steegmann, Essen’s squad planner, explains the decision: “We informed Felix Herzenbruch yesterday that we will not be extending his contract. This decision was not easy for us, he is a great person and has great merits for RWE. We have another idea for the future in the defence, so it was a decision for something new, not against ‘Herzen’. We really wish him all the best for his sporting future and would like to be able to tie him to us again in the medium term and integrate him into our NLZ, for example.”
This is the squad status at Rot-Weiss Essen:
Expiring contracts (9): Raphael Koczor, Felix Herzenbruch, Michel Niemeyer, Niklas Tarnat, Cedric Harenbrock (also has an option to extend his contract if the club stays in the league), Oguzhan Kefkir, Kevin Holzweiler, Ron Berlinski (contract extended by one year if the club stays in the league), Simon Engelmann.
Players on loan – possible purchase options not included here (5): Moritz Römling (VfL Bochum), Meiko Sponsel (1. FC Köln), Felix Götze (FC Augsburg / he will be signed permanently if the club stays in the league), Lawrence Ennali (Hannover 96), Luca Wollschläger (Hertha BSC)
Loan players returning (6): Timur Mehmet Kesim (Wattenscheid 09), Nico Haiduk (ETB SW Essen), Sascha Voelcke (1. FC Bocholt), Nils Kaiser (SC Wiedenbrück), Fabian Rüth (RW Koblenz), Erolind Krasniqi (Teutonia 05 Ottensen)
Committed for longer
Until 2024 (10): Felix Wienand, José-Enrique Rios Alonso, Felix Bastians, Sandro Plechaty, Björn Rother, Clemens Fandrich, Thomas Eisfeld, Torben Müsel, Isaiah Young, Aurel Loubongo
Until 2025 (3):Jakob Golz, Mustafa Kourouma, Andreas Wiegel