Bang at Hannover 96: sports director Schmadtke gone again

AUDIO: Lots of room for speculation: Hannover 96 and Jörg Schmadtke are separating (3 min)

In a brief statement, the club spoke of an “amicable separation on March 31, 2026.” Hannover did not give reasons for the departure of the 62-year-old, who only took over from Marcus Mann, who moved to RB Salzburg, at the beginning of the year.

2nd league

As sports director, Jörg Schmadtke takes over responsibility for the licensed team and the 96 Academy. He receives a contract until 2029.

There was also no information about a possible successor. The supervisory bodies would “decide in due course on the appointment of a new sports managing director at Hannover 96 GmbH & Co. KGaA,” it said.

Schmadtke only took over from Mann in January

In December, Schmadtke received a contract until February 28, 2029. It was his second term with the “Reds”. During its first season, the club finished the 2010/2011 Bundesliga season in fourth place, and the team also played in the Europa League in the following two years.

After his departure from 96, Schmadtke worked at 1. FC Köln and VfL Wolfsburg, and until February 2024 he was the sporting director of Liverpool FC. The former professional began his managerial career at Alemannia Aachen.

Bindzus and Becker are taking over on an interim basis

According to the report, Schmadtke’s tasks will be taken over on an interim basis by managing director Henning Bindzus and sports director Ralf Becker.

Hannover still has a good chance of returning to the Bundesliga as fifth in the second division under coach Christian Titz. After the 1-0 win in the Niedersachsensenderby against Eintracht Braunschweig, 96 are only two points short of a direct promotion place. “For Hannover 96, the realization of the sporting goals of the current season remains the priority,” said the announcement about the separation from Schmadtke.

Results, table standings and match days at a glance.

2nd Bundesliga

The “Reds” earned their success in the 184th Niedersachsensenderby through a committed defensive performance. However, Eintracht was superior for long stretches of the game.

Heated Lower Saxony senderby

Hannover 96 won the Niedersachsensenderby against Eintracht Braunschweig. All information, videos and voices about the prestigious duel in the news blog.