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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An exceptional honour for the Werkself: Bayer 04 were nominated in three categories in the 68th edition of the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for the first time in the club's history on Monday night, 28 October.
Show moreThe new edition of the Werkself Magazine appears on Friday 30 August. Before that we bring you an interview with Simon Rolfes exclusively here at bayer04.de. The sporting managing director is often described in the media as an architect, as the builder of the Werkself. The former Bayer 04 player would never choose those descriptions himself. The 42-year-old simply wants to do a very good job. In an interview with the Werkself Magazine, he talks about his strategic ability, why he likes working with people, the challenges for a championship winning squad and explains how important certain values are to him.
Show moreIn a big double interview with bayer04.de, CEO Fernando Carro and managing director for sport Simon Rolfes review the past months and look ahead to 2024 with great confidence.
Show moreBayer 04 welcomed 14 media representatives from Africa on Friday, 1 December. The trip for journalists from the likes of Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mozambique, Togo, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Togo was organised by the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) with the goal of establishing and promoting Africa as a new target market for the Bundesliga.
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