Jörg Schmadtke's Departure from Hannover 96 After a Short Stint of 81 Days
After just 81 days, Second-tier side Hannover 96 and Jörg Schmadtke are parting ways with the club aiming for promotion. Schmadtke, a familiar face from the club's successful past, returned to German professional football in a brief yet eventful tenure.
Second-tier side Hannover 96 and Jörg Schmadtke are parting ways after just 81 days.The club, which is aiming for promotion, announced on Sunday that it had parted ways “by mutual agreement” with its sporting director as of 31 March. According to the club’s statement, a decision on who will take over the role will be made “in due course”; in the meantime, the duties will be handled on an interim basis by managing director Henning Bindzus and sporting director Ralf Becker.Schmadtke, who had already shaped the most successful period in the club’s recent history between 2009 and 2013, had only returned to German professional football on Christmas Eve 2025. The 62-year-old took over from Marcus Mann on 1 January, who had moved to RB Salzburg in Austria. His contract was originally due to run until 28 February 2029.During Schmadtke’s first spell at 96, the club finished the 2010/11 Bundesliga season in fourth place, and the team also competed in the Europa League in the following two years. After leaving, Schmadtke worked at 1. FC Köln and VfL Wolfsburg; prior to his second spell in Hannover, he served as sporting director at Liverpool FC until February 2024.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
The Unexpected Split
Second-tier side Hannover 96 stunned fans and football pundits alike with the announcement of sporting director Jörg Schmadtke's departure after a mere 81 days back at the club. The decision was framed as a mutual agreement by both parties, leaving the club in search of a new direction with the promotion still in focus.
A Respected Figure's Return
Jörg Schmadtke, a key figure in Hannover 96's successful period from 2009 to 2013, made his return to the club in a surprising move just before Christmas in 2025. The 62-year-old aimed to replicate past glories but found his second spell cut short, raising questions about the future direction of the team.
A Storied Career
Schmadtke's resume boasts successful stints at various clubs, including 1. FC Köln, VfL Wolfsburg, and even a role as sporting director at Liverpool FC. His legacy at Hannover 96 remains impressive, with notable achievements like a fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga and European competition appearances during his initial tenure.
