Hamburg confirmed on Tuesday that Kathleen Krüger will take up the role of board member in charge of sport at Hamburger SV on July 1.
The club praised Krüger’s 17 years of experience at the highest international level with FC Bayern München, saying she has helped shape key processes in a high-pressure environment and shown outstanding organisational and leadership skills.
Krüger, 40, spent her playing career as a midfielder for Bayern, making 33 Bundesliga appearances between 2003 and 2009. After retiring, she held several roles at the club and most recently served as head of organization and infrastructure.
“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.
HSV has been searching for a new head of sport since former Germany striker Stefan Kuntz left at the turn of the year amid allegations of serious misconduct, which he denies.
Krüger becomes the first permanent female board member responsible for sport at Hamburg. While Katja Kraus was the club’s first female executive board member in the Bundesliga era (2003–2011) and briefly acted in the sporting role in 2009, Krüger’s appointment is the first permanent placement in that portfolio.
Her hiring is being viewed as another step toward greater gender equality in German football. Other recent milestones include RB Leipzig appointing Swiss executive Tatjana Haenni as chairperson of its executive board at the start of 2026, and Union Berlin naming Marie-Louise Eta interim head coach late last season — Eta earned her first win in charge with a 3-1 victory over Mainz.
Krüger’s move to Hamburg marks a high-profile switch from a long tenure at Bayern to one of Germany’s historic clubs as it looks to build for the future on and off the pitch.