New sports director
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Promotion to the Bundesliga: That was the big goal when Jonas Boldt was still working for Hamburger SV. And his new job at Hannover 96 is about nothing else. On Monday, the 44-year-old was introduced as sports director at Maschsee.
“My first impulse wasn’t immediately: Yes, I’ll do that. Rather, it had to mature a bit. It wasn’t necessarily my goal to work in the second division again. But one of the impulses was to take on a role again in which I can have responsibility and set an example of responsibility. I’m more of a designer than an administrator. And it’s logical that this is more necessary in the second division than at a club that is already established and quite well positioned,” said Boldt when asked about the reasons for his move.
For Lower Saxony, who lost Bundesliga relegation on the last matchday of the season, the Nuremberg native is following in the footsteps of Jörg Schmadtke and taking up the position of sports director, which has been vacant since March. Boldt’s task on the leash is clear if you ask around the club: from the supporters’ point of view, the promotion, which was narrowly missed this year, should ideally be followed by a sense of success in twelve months. To achieve this, the Reds need to field a powerful squad. Eleven contracts are expiring and the departures of some top performers from the previous season have already been confirmed. The offensive talent Yunus Ünal from Hertha BSC is also the first new signing.
“What I haven’t missed in the last few months are terms like upheaval or sleeping giant. In any case, I haven’t noticed this club as sleeping. I think that the club has a very good foundation, is seriously positioned and is also in a very solid financial position. Fortunately, the goal and the desire to be back at the top again at some point is there. Without this ambition, I would have found it difficult too. I can’t promise when we’ll be promoted. But I can definitely promise that that will be the ambition.”
Boldt looks forward to working with coach Christian Titz and sports director Ralf Becker, both of whom also have HSV past. Both personalities had been questioned several times in the media in the last few days after the end of the season. When he took office, Boldt dispelled any rumors in this direction.
“In Ralf Becker and Christian Titz, I have two people with whom I really enjoy working. And with that I can dispel any remaining doubts as to whether anyone is shaky or not. If you see last season: eight sold-out games, fourth place in the table, better than it’s been for a long time – then that’s a lot of work on the part of the coach and the coaching team. I’m not the type of person who quickly points the finger at someone and says: It’s your fault. He has to go. Ralf Becker is also coming I don’t go here, open the suitcase and say: We’re going to get this and that player now. My role will be a bit more important.
When asked about the structures at the traditional club in Lower Saxony and the not uncommon disputes between the club and the capital, Boldt said: “The structure in Hanover is well known. And it wasn’t about shaking it up, but rather dealing with the people involved. And the experience from Hamburg definitely helps me here. Because I believe: There are hardly any more quarreling camps, committees and other things like when I started there. I have a piece of that here too The goal is to bring people along as best as possible.”
The manager is looking forward to the challenges ahead and has recently “taken some time after five intensive years in Hamburg to gain some distance, to further my education and to get involved in a lot of other sports. Especially when it comes to structures and leadership. Of course, I would also have liked to have been part of HSV’s promotion as captain. But what we developed there, that we changed the culture and introduced these performance ambitions: That’s something I look back on very proudly.”
Boldt’s mentor Rudi Völler was also someone who supported his pro-96 decision. He once learned his trade in the service of Bayer 04 Leverkusen under the former national coach and current DFB director. “He definitely congratulated me on this job. But I also involved him in my decision regarding the cup final. He strongly advised me to do it. But he also knows me and knows that I was looking for this kind of task and challenge again. We have a very regular exchange – whether in a larger group or just alone.”
