Jorg Schmadtke returns to football as former Liverpool sporting director makes Ibiza sacrifice

Jorg Schmadtke has returned to football for the first time since leaving his role as Liverpool sporting director in February 2024

Former Liverpool sporting director Jorg Schmadtke has returned to football for the first time since leaving the Reds in February 2024.

The 61-year-old was essentially lured out of retirement in order to take over from Julian Ward at Anfield in the summer of 2023, having left VfL Wolfsburg the previous January.

During his brief stint on Merseyside, he oversaw an extensive revamp of Liverpool’s midfield as the Reds signed Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch in an £150m spending spree, while also selling Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Pro League sides Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad for a combined £52m.

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Soon after it was announced that Jurgen Klopp would be stepping down as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023/24 season, it was confirmed that Schmadtke would also be leaving following the conclusion of the January transfer window.

But following two years out of football, the German has now been lured out of retirement once more after re-joining former club Hannover 96.

Schmadtke previously spent four years with the German outfit between 2009 and 2013, initially serving as their sporting director before taking over as managing director of sport in 2011.

He has now returned to the club in his previous role of managing director of sport, succeeding Marcus Mann following his departure to Red Bull Salzburg, with Schmadtke starting in his new role from January 1.

Signing a contract until the end of February 2029, the 61-year-old is responsible for both the professional team and the 96 Academy.

Following his return to Hannover, he said: “I am very pleased to be back and to take on the task at Hannover 96. Now it’s about getting to work quickly.

“First of all, I want to quickly get a comprehensive overview and will have many discussions to learn about the internal processes, structures and perspectives.

“It’s not about me being back and things going back to the way they were. That sometimes creates false expectations.

“Yes, I’ve been here before. But it’s a new era, and the circumstances are different.

“Back then, I joined the first division. Now we’re in the second division and have an idea of how we might eventually get back to the first division.

“Of course, the first division is the ultimate goal in Germany, but that didn’t play a role in this case because, after making contact, I felt I could support people I like. I was happy to do that by joining the club.”

Hannover have signed three players since Schmadtke’s return to the club, with Elias Saad the latest arrival on Wednesday as he joined Hannover on loan from FC Augsburg.

They also signed Stefan Teitur Thordarson from Preston North End and Noah Weisshaupt on loan from SC Freiburg earlier this month.

Such business comes despite the German insisting that ‘Transfers in winter aren’t so easy.’

When previewing the January transfer window earlier this month, he said: “The winter market is complicated and expensive. You can hardly give the player time to integrate, neither culturally nor in terms of playing style.

“And that style here in Hannover is quite demanding. It’s not your average, run-of-the-mill football.

“In the summer it’s easier; you have six weeks of pre-season training, the weather is different. The new players are out and about more and can acclimatise to the city and the club.

“It’s already somewhat different now, which is another reason why our transfer activity won’t be excessive.

“I can always contribute my own ideas, but of course, in this short time, I also take over things that have already been prepared, look at them more closely, evaluate them, implement them, or discard them.”

Meanwhile, while Schmadke remained predominantly based from his home in Ibiza during his time at Liverpool, he has confirmed he will be moving to Hannover following his return to the club.

“We’re moving to Hannover. I can’t exactly sit in Spain or Dusseldorf and manage a club from there,” he told club media. “I have options to retreat to both locations.

“But I’m convinced that you have to be in the city where you work. There’s no other way.

“A club isn’t a laboratory. You have to feel what’s going on in the city, what people think about it, and what the current emotions are. It’s only fun if you’re in contact with the people.”