TSG Hoffenheim mourn the loss of Christian Frommert

His passing has caused great sadness among the club's staff and management: "We've lost a person who worked for TSG Hoffenheim with the greatest commitment and tireless passion. Christian Frommert had a lasting impact on the club that extended far beyond his communications work. "I have personally have lost a leader in him, but also a close confidant and companion," said TSG shareholder Dietmar Hopp, who went on to add: "We knew that Christian was seriously ill and wanted nothing more than for him to win this battle. It was incredible for us to see the determination with which he confronted the illness. His death leaves a huge gap," said Dr. Markus Schütz, the chairman of the executive management, adding: "He was a constant driving force behind TSG's development at all levels, without ever putting himself in the foreground."

Frommert took up the position of media director at TSG in 2013, having previously worked for the club as a consultant. Born in Worms and raised in Bürstadt in southern Hesse, he initially worked as a journalist for the Frankfurter Rundschau for 15 years after leaving school. Between 2005 and 2008, Christian Frommert was the head of sponsorship communications at T-Mobile International and Deutsche Telekom AG, where he was also responsible for the company's successful cycling team. Among other things, he gained nationwide recognition when he announced the suspension of Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich due to suspected doping at a press conference in 2006. Frommert also attracted a great deal of attention with his book "Dann iss halt was!" (Then just eat something!), published in 2013, in which he wrote about his anorexia in order to – in his own words – "take the taboo out" of the topic.

He restructured the media department at TSG Hoffenheim and came up with numerous innovative ideas. The professionalisation of the club's communications is inextricably linked to his name, and many overarching initiatives such as the future strategy 'TSG is movement' can be traced back to his input. He was an early advocate of positioning the "village club" as a sustainable, innovative and social club alongside the sporting aspect.

Christian Frommert was a respected interlocutor, whose advice was readily sought because he was consistently clear in his assessment. He also successfully used his contacts and relationships, which went far beyond sport, to TSG Hoffenheim's benefit. He was passionate about communication, networking, doing sport on a daily basis – and music. Anyone who visited Christian Frommert at his home in Bensheim, which was decorated with love and devotion, often saw him pick up one of his guitars, playing it and singing fervently. The driven communicator, who was always in conversation, was totally at one with himself in such moments.

"It is a great gift to be able to work for this unique club," Christian Frommert said a year ago. Shortly afterwards, in August 2024, he was diagnosed with cancer and began treatment. But the treatments did not have the desired effect. Christian Frommert died on 4 February, three days after his 58th birthday.

Our sympathy goes out to his family and friends. The club will preserve his memory. His ideas and passion are our obligation.