Schicker named new managing director of sport, Briel to return

"Andreas Schicker was our absolute dream solution. He stands for exceptional quality of work and thus for success. Our discussions with him were characterised by a high level of professionalism and trust. During the entire negotiations, he always gave us the feeling that he really wanted to join TSG," says Jörg Albrecht, first chair of the registered association and majority shareholder of the football limited company. "The entire management team is excellently positioned in the new constellation and will lead TSG into a positive future."

Dietmar Hopp, TSG shareholder, adds: "Andreas Schicker stands for a clear playing philosophy and has earned an excellent reputation in the industry in recent years due to his astute transfers of young talent. We are delighted to have him join TSG Hoffenheim."

Schicker is coming to Kraichgau from Austrian champions Sturm Graz. In Styria, he worked his way up from head scout and video analyst to sporting director within a few years. Since taking office in May 2020, Sturm Graz has developed into the second strongest team in Austria, behind serial champions RB Salzburg, finishing second in the league in 2022 and 2023 and also winning the ÖFB Cup in 2023. Last season, Sturm Graz achieved a major domestic triumph by winning the league and cup double, thereby qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

"The German Bundesliga has always been a goal for me that I have been working towards. I have never made a secret of that. So it's all the nicer now that I've made the switch to TSG. Hoffenheim is an exciting club with an incredible amount of potential and a youth programme that has been outstanding for years. I can absolutely identify with TSG's special approach, which, among other things, provides for a strong level of permeability into the professional ranks. I am now very much looking forward to getting to know the team, the coaching staff, the support staff and all the other employees at the club," said Andreas Schicker, commenting on his decision in favour of TSG.

In addition to his career in management, Schicker also had a successful career as a professional footballer. Between 2002 and 2017, the left-footed player made a total of 162 appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga, playing for clubs including Austria Vienna, SV Ried, Admira Wacker Mödling and SC Wiener Neustadt, among others. He also played 161 matches in the Austrian second tier and 25 matches in the Austrian Cup. Schicker also represented the Austrian U21 national team 17 times during his career. Schicker took over as sporting director at SC Wiener Neustadt for the 2017/2018 season before joining Sturm Graz in November 2018, initially as chief scout and video analyst.

As the new managing director of sport, Schicker will be supported by Frank Kramer, who will take on the position of director of sport and act as a link between the club's own TSG academy and the Hoffenheim professionals.

Frank Briel will return to the position of managing director of finance. The 49-year-old business graduate previously worked for the club from 2006 until May 2023 and accompanied the club's sporting success from the Regionalliga to the club's entry into the UEFA Champions League.

"Frank Briel is an excellent expert who has helped build and lead the club in a responsible position for many years and also enjoys an excellent reputation throughout the entire Bundesliga. In professional football in particular, a healthy economic basis is the cornerstone for success. Frank is familiar with the club and the challenges of the football industry. He doesn't need any time to get up to speed and can start right away. We are therefore very happy to have convinced him to return to ‘his’ TSG," says Jörg Albrecht.

"I'm pleased to be returning to TSG. There are still many familiar faces at TSG, but also new ones, with whom I will work together in a committed and goal-oriented manner for the good of TSG," says Briel, adding: "TSG 1899 Hoffenheim Fußball-Spielbetriebs GmbH should and must continue to stand on a financially solid footing in the future. This is challenging in these times, but definitely possible. I am convinced that together we can write more successful chapters. I would like to make my contribution to this."

In the wake of the changes in management, TSG Hoffenheim has restructured the entire management level. In the future, communication, organisation, personnel & culture, as well as digitalisation, IT & AI, will be led by individual managers, who, together with the managing directors, will form the club's management committee.

"With the new management structure, we are aligning ourselves for the future and ensuring that TSG Hoffenheim can operate even more dynamically and innovatively with fresh impulses and proven expertise. This is an important building block for the success of our long-term strategy and a strengthening of TSG both on and off the pitch," says Dr Markus Schütz, chair of the board of management.