Simon Zoller has been part of the sporting management team at VfL Bochum for some time now. He gives an insight into his work.

For almost three months now, he has been part of the sporting management team at VfL Bochum, having not so long ago played for the local club himself. Simon Zoller spent more than four years at Castroper Straße until 2023. After ending his career at FC St. Pauli in the summer, he returned. The 34-year-old is now active as Director of Performance Licensing and is jointly responsible for squad planning, among other things.

He is currently with VfL in Belek, Turkey, where the Bochum team is preparing for the second half of the second division season. “The training camp isn’t much different from before as a player, except that I don’t have to train,” he jokes in a major WAZ interview about his new role.

Zoller explains: “Of course, I feel the responsibility I bear, but I also chose it quite deliberately. As a player, and especially during my time in Bochum, I was someone who liked to take on responsibility. I was able to learn a lot back then, including about processes off the pitch. That’s why the transition wasn’t difficult for me.” He works hand in hand with head coach Uwe Rösler. “The collaboration with Uwe is very good; he takes me 100 percent with him.”

An important part of Zoller’s responsibilities is squad planning. VfL has announced two new signings so far this winter (Callum Marshall and Mikkel Rakneberg), and Colin Kleine-Bekel has left on loan. Ibrahima Sissoko may also leave the club in the winter. “We have never engaged in speculation and, as we have always done, we will not comment on possible rumors. The fact is that Ibrahima has a current contract. But it is also a fact that we are always open to discussion when a player expresses a desire to transfer, as has happened in this case. Ultimately, however, it has to be a good fit for all sides,” says Zoller about the midfielder, who is currently playing in the Africa Cup of Nations and is being courted by clubs in France.

In an interview with WAZ, Zoller also talks about expectations for new signings, Frankfurt rumors surrounding Cajetan Lenz, a possible permanent signing of trial player Marcel Sobottka, expiring contracts, and the future of VfL Bochum’s loan players.