Hamburg introduced Kathleen Kruger as the football club’s new board member in charge of the game at a press conference at its home ground Volksparkstadion on Wednesday.
Kruger, who officially took up the post on 1 July, said that following Hamburg’s survival in the Bundesliga following its first season in the top flight in seven years, the focus will now be on “establishing ourselves in the first division. But we are courageous, ambitious and passionate. We don’t just want to maintain the status quo; we want to develop.”
The press conference took place several weeks after his appointment was announced in mid-May.
“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 at the time.
“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 held several positions at Bayern and was most recently serving 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 is seen as another step towards gender equality in German football.
In April, Union Berlin appointed Marie-Louise Eta as interim coach for the remainder of the season after firing Stephan Baumgart. In doing so, they became the first club in one of Europe’s top five leagues to appoint a woman to the role. In his five games in charge, he compiled a record of two wins, two losses and one draw. On Wednesday, Eta took over as head coach of Union’s women’s team, following the appointment of new men’s coach Mauro Lustrinelli.
This article was originally published on May 12, 2026, after Kruger’s appointment. This was updated on July 1, 2026 as he officially assumed the role.
Edited by: Jonathan Harding