Hamburg announced on Tuesday that Kathleen Kruger will become the new board member in charge of the football club’s playing field from July 1.
“By appointing Kathleen Kruger, HSV (Hamburg) is securing the services of a highly respected individual who has worked at the highest international level for many years at FC Bayern Munich.” The club said in a statement on its website.
“Over the course of 17 years, he has gained extensive experience in the sometimes emotionally charged environment of an elite club, helped shape key processes and demonstrated exceptional organizational and leadership skills.”
The former midfielder has held several positions at Bayern and most recently served as head of organization and infrastructure at the club.
He said, “I am absolutely delighted with the confidence that has been placed in me. It is a real privilege to help Hamburger SV, one of the biggest names in German football, in such a decisive playing role, helping to build the future at the sporting level.”
As a player, Kruger, now 40, played 33 Bundesliga matches for Bayern between 2003 and 2009.
Hamburg had been looking for a new head of sport since former Germany striker Stefan Kuntz left at the end of the year amid allegations of serious misconduct – all charges he denies.
First woman to become a permanent board member for sports
Krüger is not the first woman to serve on Hamburg’s executive board, as Katja Kroos became the first woman to do so in the Bundesliga from 2003 to 2011. However, Kruger became the first permanent female board member responsible for sport. Kross also took over that position on an interim basis after Dietmar Beiersdorfer left Hamburg in 2009.
At RB Leipzig, Switzerland’s Tatjana Heini has served as chairwoman of the executive board from the beginning of 2026.
Kruger’s appointment will be seen as another step towards gender equality in German football.
Last month, Union Berlin turned to Marie-Louise Eta as interim coach for the remainder of the season. In doing so, they became the first club in Europe’s top five leagues to appoint a woman to the role. He got his first win as Union head coach in a 3–1 win over Mainz on Sunday.
Edited by: Jonathan Harding