Hamburg introduced Kathleen Krüger as the football club’s new board member in charge of sport at a press conference at their home ground, the Volksparkstadion, on Wednesday. 

Krüger, who officially took up the post on July 1st, said that following Hamburg’s survival in the Bundesliga after their first season in the top flight in seven years, the focus would now be on “further establishing ourselves in the first division. But we are bold, ambitious, and passionate. We don’t want to merely maintain the status quo; we want to develop.”

 The press conference came several weeks after her appointment was announced in mid-May.

“By appointing Kathleen Krüger, HSV (Hamburg) is securing the services of a highly respected figure who has worked at the highest international level for many years at FC Bayern München,” the club said in a statement at the time.

“Over the course of 17 years, she 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.

“I’m absolutely delighted by the trust that has been placed in me. It is a genuine privilege to help shape Hamburger SV, one of the biggest names in German football, in such a decisive sporting role, building for the future on the sporting level,” she said.

As a player, the now-40-year-old Krüger made 33 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern between 2003 and 2009.

Hamburg had been in the market for a new head of sport since former Germany striker Stefan Kuntz departed at the turn of the year amid allegations of serious misconduct — all of which he denies.

Advertisement

First woman to be a permanent board member for sport

Krüger is not the first woman to serve on Hamburg’s executive board, as Katja Kraus became the first in the Bundesliga to do so from 2003 to 2011. However, Krüger becomes the first permanent female board member responsible for sport. Kraus also held that position on an interim basis after Dietmar Beiersdorfer left Hamburg in 2009.

At RB Leipzig, Tatjana Haenni of Switzerland has served as chairperson of the executive board since the start of 2026.

Krüger’s appointment is seen as a further step towards gender equality in German football.

In April, Union Berlin turned to Marie-Louise Eta as interim coach for the rest of the season after sacking Steffen 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 her five games in charge, she posted a record of two wins, two losses and one draw. On Wednesday, following the appointment of new men’s coach Mauro Lustrinelli, Eta took over as head coach of Union’s women’s team.

Advertisement

This article was originally published on May 12, 2026 following Krüger’s appointment. It was updated on July 1, 2026 as she officially took up the role. 

Edited by: Jonathan Harding