Simon Rolfes succeeded club legend Rudi Völler as Managing Director Sports at Bayer 04 on 1 July 2022. Prior to that, the Ibbenbüren native had been working as sporting director for three and a half years and, before that, as head of youth and development for five months.
Rolfes started his football career at TuS Recke. He signed for Werder Bremen at U19 level and then progressed to their first team. Following a successful season at second division Alemannia Aachen, where he played in the UEFA Cup, Rolfes moved to Bayer 04 in 2005. He made 377 appearances and scored 49 goals for the Werkself. He also went on to play for Germany, earning 26 caps and also taking part in Euro 2008.
After hanging up his boots in 2015, Rolfes ran two companies, worked as a football pundit for ZDF and also completed a two-year UEFA course as a 'Master for International Players' (MIP). The subject of his dissertation was 'Football academies in Europe'. The Bayer 04 honorary captain visited Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Tottenham Hotspur and PSV Eindhoven in the process. He spoke to academy directors, managers and presidents, as well as analysing youth team training sessions and the different approaches to youth development.
TuS Recke (1986-99), SV Werder Bremen (1999-January 2003), SSV Reutlingen (January-June 2003), SV Werder Bremen (2003/04), Alemannia Aachen (2004/05), Bayer 04 Leverkusen (2005-15)
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen back continuity at the top of the club. The Bundesliga and Europa League participants have extended the contract with sporting managing director Simon Rolfes to 2028. The former midfielder and long-standing Werkself captain took over this position as the successor to Rudi Völler in the summer of 2022. He was previously the sporting director at Bayer 04 for three and a half years.
Show moreSporting managing director Simon Rolfes is a guest on German TV on Sky90 on Sunday 27 August. Host Patrick Wasserzieht will welcome the 41-year-old to his studio from 18.00 CEST. Subjects for discussion will include current events in football as well as the Bundesliga start for the Werkself.
Show moreFollowing the Europa League semi-final first leg away to AS Roma, the Werkself prepare for the next Bundesliga match at VfB Stuttgart on Sunday 14 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST) with two training sessions in the Italian capital. Ahead of the departure to Stuttgart on Saturday afternoon, we spoke to sporting managing director Simon Rolfes.
Show moreThe announcements of recent weeks speak for themselves: Two key players for the Werkself in striker Patrik Schick and young Germany international Florian Wirtz have extended their contracts to 2027 and Simon Rolfes took over as sporting managing director as planned on 1 July – and, shortly after that, Fernando Carro signed a new contract that runs for the next five years. Continuity at the highest level. An outstanding basis for the CEO and his most important colleague Rolfes to be able to continue to shape the successful path for Bayer 04. The leading duo at the Werkself have ambitious plans for the coming years.
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