Successor has been determined
Managing director Marcus Mann is leaving Hannover 96
Updated 12/24/2025 – 2:47 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The change has now been confirmed: Managing Director Marcus Mann is moving from Hannover 96 to RB Salzburg. The 41-year-old’s successor has already been decided.
Marcus Mann leaves Hannover 96. After four and a half years with the “Reds”, the sports director is moving to Austria. Mann will work there in the same role at Red Bull Salzburg, both clubs confirmed on Christmas Eve.
Saying goodbye was very difficult for him, Mann said in a 96 statement. “Over the four and a half years I have always been involved with great passion and have taken the club, the city and the people very close to my heart.” He has signed a contract in Salzburg until June 30, 2030.
Mann already had a good feeling after the first discussions with Red Bull: “The club stands for a clear philosophy, successful youth work and ambitious goals.” He wants to make a long-term difference in Salzburg.
Hannover 96 has already filled the position of sports director: Jörg Schmadtke will take over the position from January 1, 2026. His contract runs until February 28, 2029. Schmadtke most recently worked as sports director of Liverpool FC until February 2024. Hanover is not new territory for him: the 61-year-old worked in the same position at Lower Saxony from 2009 to 2013.
Back then, Jörg Schmadtke and trainer Mirko Slomka guided professionals like Lars Stindl, Ron-Robert Zieler and Mame Diouf on a leash. Hannover 96 managed to qualify for the UEFA Europa League twice during this time. Schmadtke is very happy about his return and wants to get a “comprehensive picture” and have a lot of discussions.
The contact was never broken after the first term in office, said Martin Kind, chairman of the supervisory board of Hannover 96 GmbH & Co. KGaA. Jörg Schmadtke is an experienced specialist. “It stands for structured approach, decision-making power and, as a result, successful work,” said Kind.