Bundesliga: Hamburg appoint Bernhard Peters as their new sporting director
Tuesday 15 July 2014 16:54, UK
Hamburg have appointed Bernhard Peters as their new sporting director a day after they parted company with director of sport Oliver Kreuzer.
The 54-year-old Peters left Hoffenheim on Tuesday following eight years at the Bundesliga club and has been handed a similar role at the Imtech Arena.
Peters, who takes up his position at Hamburg on August 1 - but not as a direct replacement for Kreuzer - will work with the younger players at the club to help "develop a comprehensive support framework from youth to professional level".
Hamburg director Dietmar Beiersdorfer told the club's official website: "The obligation of Bernhard Peters is an essential part of sports realignment.
"We are very happy that we have managed to win, with Bernhard Peters, one of the most recognised national and international experts in the topics of soccer structure, concept and talent development for HSV."
"Bernhard Peters will not take over the position of the former sports director," Beiersdorfer added, and with regard to filling the position of director of professional football, he said the club "are currently in talks".
Speaking about his appointment, Peters said: "Now it's my goal, together with Dietmar Beiersdorfer and our employees, to give HSV (its) own footballing identity: a philosophy that is child-on developed from the youth to professional area."
In regard to his family, Peters believes joining Hamburg is an opportunity he could not turn down.
He added: "We have been very attached to the north of Germany for years, which affects both the city of Hamburg and the surrounding area. Therefore, this step is also for my family and it's a tremendous opportunity, a new phase of life for me to start in an already familiar environment."
Hoffenheim partner Dietmar Hopp thanked Peters for his contribution as director of sports and youth development at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena over the past eight years.
He told his club's official website: "Bernhard Peters has gained tremendous achievements at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
"His name is closely associated with the all-important youth development. He has succeeded over the past years with creativity, concepts and passion to become a figurehead.
"We owe him our respect and sincere thanks."
