Peter Niemeyer’s first 100 days as head of professional football at SV Werder Bremen are now behind him. In an interview with WERDER.DE, the 40-year-old looks back on this time, speaks about the challenges and his expectations for the next 100 days.
Peter Niemeyer’s first 100 days as head of professional football at SV Werder Bremen are now behind him. In an interview with WERDER.DE, the 40-year-old looks back on this time, speaks about the challenges and his expectations for the next 100 days.
WERDER.DE: 100 days have passed since you began your new role at Werder. How would you describe these last weeks and months?
Peter Niemeyer: The transfer window and pre-season meant that it was a very intensive time, but it makes you want to do more. I’ve got to know many people with whom I work every day. I’m highly motivated to contribute to the club’s success and am convinced that we’re on the right path. The club’s got a lot of potential and we’ll work hard to keep improving.
WERDER.DE: You’ve returned to Werder after 14 years. What has changed since then, what’s stayed the same, and have you recognised many faces from your last spell at Werder?
Peter Niemeyer: Due to the differing roles, the perspective with which I left Werder as a player is of course different. What can be said with certainty is that I have found a club that has become much bigger than it was 14 years ago. I was and still am impressed by the professionalism with which detailed work is done here. There are also still a lot of people at the club who were here back when I played. A few people have left, but many others have come in, and the people who are still here still possess the same Werder values and pass them on to the new workers. That’s what makes Werder special.
WERDER.DE: In Berlin, Darmstadt, Enschede and Münster, you’ve been able to gain an insight into the workings of many clubs and done so from differing perspectives in various roles. How much does this experience help you in your new role at Werder, and how well have you settled into your new job?
Peter Niemeyer: It was clear to me that if I wanted to start another career in sport after my playing career, then I need to start with the basics. I was fortunate to have been able to take on a role of responsibility quite early on, but naturally under a slightly smaller framework. In Enschede and Münster, I was able to learn a lot of processes from scratch, gaining good insights and experiences which I can now bring into my new role at Werder.
WERDER.DE: You joined Werder at the start of the transfer window. How much of a challenge was this given that it was the Euros during the summer?
Peter Niemeyer: It was a challenge, yes, not just because of the Euros, but also partly because of it. There wasn’t a lot of movement in the market. One advantage at a club like Werder is that the planning of a transfer window isn’t dependent on certain individuals. Lots of things were already prepared or were already completed, and the squad stayed together early on. These things made it an easier start for me.
WERDER.DE: What is your overall assessment of your first transfer window?
Peter Niemeyer: All in all, we are very happy to have not lost any key players. We were even able to sort out a few contract extensions, which ensures continuity and stability. We’re pleased with all the signings we made. All the new players have real potential, and it’s now a case of working on it here. At the same time, we of course wished that some other things had gone a bit differently.
WERDER.DE: As managing director at Münster, you were solely responsible for a lot of decisions. At Werder, you now do this in consultation with several board members. How different is this way of working? Does it make it easier to make decisions or does it make some processes take longer?
Peter Niemeyer: It’s a different way of working, that’s the best way to put it. I’m a team player and I’m good at finding my role in a group. We had a very small scouting department in Münster, which meant that processes were completed very quickly. We can do that here in Bremen, too, although it is a bigger club. We’ve got a really good, well-drilled team, and although we may sometimes need a bit more consultation, you can draw upon a larger expertise, which can also make things easier.
WERDER.DE: In Clemens Fritz, you’re not only working alongside your superior, but also alongside your friend. How is he different at work and in private?
Peter Niemeyer: Clemens possesses certain basic values that characterise him both as a person in private and in a professional context. At work, he is certainly more solution-oriented and obsessed with success. Clemens is really good at dealing with people and treating them equally and with respect. He’s an absolute team player. It appears to me that Clemens has quickly settled into his role as CEO and has also been able to let go of his previous role. That gives me a lot of confidence and more opportunity to settle into mine. He deserves a lot of credit for that, because that is not always a given.
WERDER.DE: You’ve mentioned that lots of departments at Werder are full of experts. What are you basing that on and what is the impact of this on the working environment?
Peter Niemeyer: The club is highly professional, and nothing is left to chance. This results in a large number of employees. For that, you need lots of coordination and organisation. If we manage to pool all of our strengths, then we’ve got the best chance of achieving our goals.
WERDER.DE: How do you perceive this squad’s potential to develop?
Peter Niemeyer: From a footballing perspective, we’re on a good Bundesliga level, but if we want to be successful, we need to work as a team, and that’s the deciding factor for me. I’m convinced that it’s an ongoing process and that we can and need to keep growing in this area. We’ve also got a lot of players with real potential. On the one hand, we need to give these players the necessary time, and on the other hand we need to give them support and opportunities to develop. If we can do that, I believe we stand in good stead for the future.
WERDER.DE: During preseason and also at the start of the season, there’s always a little unrest due to transfers or personal disagreements. Does that make your work more difficult?
Peter Niemeyer: I certainly noticed that. Picking up on moods is a fundamental part of my work. In general, I’m in favour of criticism being addressed, when necessary, but that needs to be done in an appropriate way. We have resolved the incidents of recent weeks, and these are no longer an issue for us.
WERDER.DE: Ole Werner always appeared to be very calm and light-hearted about it all, would you agree with that?
Peter Niemeyer: I think it’s one of his strengths. Ole’s got good instincts when it comes to situations and dealing with people. He doesn't act impulsively but instead calmly. I enjoy working with him because we complement each other well.
WERDER.DE: It had been a respectable start to the season, but then came a 5-0 defeat at home to Bayern. What are your thoughts on the first few games?
Peter Niemeyer: We started the season well from a footballing perspective. The team performed very maturely in Cottbus to start with, we didn’t allow them to build up any momentum. In Augsburg we were dominant in phases of the game, and then we picked up a deserved point against a strong opponent in Dortmund, and with a bit more luck we might have come away with all three. Above all, we withstood a tough test of character against Mainz. We need to analyse the Bayern game separately. We didn’t play well, but Bayern are an extremely strong side. We can still categorise this result and look ahead.
WERDER.DE: Where do you go from here? What do you think the next 100 days will look like?
Peter Niemeyer: In the first 100 days, it was certainly about coming in and getting to grips with how it all works. Lots of observing, listening, and understanding. In the next 100 days, I will look to be constantly utilising my own skills. After pre-season and the transfer window, I’m looking forward to the campaign. Living the Bundesliga with the team week by week, the next round of the DFB-Pokal, helping the team to develop further. As I mentioned at the beginning, I cannot wait to do more.
