Werder Bremen relieve Horst Steffen of coaching duties

After a 1-1 draw at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach that dragged Werder Bremen closer to relegation danger, the club decided to end Horst Steffen's eight months in charge.

A Bremen statement noted the decision followed "intense discussions" after the 1-1 draw with Gladbach, which was the tenth Bundesliga clash in a row without a win for Werder.

Clemens Fritz, the club's managing director for sport, said: “It was a tough decision, but we are no longer convinced of the fact that Horst was the person to spark the team’s turnaround following this long run without victory. This realisation was a bitter pill to swallow, since we truly value Horst; however, this is the result reached after analysis of our sporting situation and recent discussions."

Watch: Bremen draw with Gladbach in Steffen's last game in charge

Steffen coached the team to four wins in his 20 Bundesliga matches in charge since joining from Elversberg at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Assistant coaches Raphael Duarte and Christian Groß will take charge of Bremen on an interim basis, starting with a trip to Freiburg next Saturday on Matchday 21, with Fritz stressing the club "will take the requisite amount of time in order to pinpoint the best solution for Werder." 

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Werder Bremen

Weserstadion