Successor to Virkus
“We are convinced”: Gladbach finds a new sports director
Updated 10/14/2025 – 5:23 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Shortly before his birthday there is news about Rouven Schröder. He returns to the Bundesliga.
Rouven Schröder is the new sports director at Borussia Mönchengladbach. The ex-professional, who turns 50 on Saturday, is moving from top Austrian club RB Salzburg to the relegation-threatened Bundesliga club, where he will succeed Roland Virkus. Borussia confirmed this on Tuesday.
Gladbach’s managing director Stefan Stegemann said in a club statement: “In addition to the experience, Rouven Schröder has the necessary competencies and the communicative skills needed for this demanding task.” And further: “We are convinced that, together with the sports team, he will succeed in mastering the immediate challenges as well as successfully shaping the sporting future.”
Schröder has already worked as an official in the Bundesliga for FSV Mainz 05, RB Leipzig and Schalke 04. He started in Salzburg in December 2024. He has been a candidate for Borussia several times in the past, but a contract was never signed.
58-year-old Roland Virkus resigned at the end of September after three and a half years in office. He drew the conclusions from Gladbach’s very weak start to the season.
However, the most urgent personnel issue to be clarified is the coaching question. Two weeks before Virkus’ resignation, the five-time German champion separated from Gerardo Seoane. Since then, the actual U23 coach Eugen Polanski has been the coach of the professional team “until further notice” and should remain so according to the wishes of the club committees.
Things went only slightly better under Polanski: Gladbach are second to last in the table with three points from six games, and Borussia will be guests at Union Berlin on Friday (from 8:30 p.m. in the t-online live ticker). The new sports director should also decide whether Polanski becomes a permanent solution.