The first two work days of manager Klaus Filbry were spent initially in the Bremen business offices and then in Dubai. It was 48 hours of getting an overview of his...
The first two work days of manager Klaus Filbry were spent initially in the Bremen business offices and then in Dubai. It was 48 hours of getting an overview of his...
The first two work days of manager Klaus Filbry were spent initially in the Bremen business offices and then in Dubai. It was 48 hours of getting an overview of his new working landscape, new colleagues and conditions with the Green-Whites. Afterwards he met the media. And WERDER.DE was, of course, on hand at the table, noting the most interesting statements.
Mr. Filbry, after two days you have really arrived in Werder's world. What was it like taking your spot in your new office, travelling with the team bus for the first time and being close to the team?
I have worked a long time in football, but it's always exciting for me. Until now, I have always been in big companies and dealt with players and brands. Now I am partially responsible for the positioning of an entire club - so being right in the middle of things.
At your presentation in December, it was clear that you were brought in to make Werder more present internationally. Is the trip to Dubai a first step towards that?
Dubai is a start. When we get back we will analyse together exactly which markets would be good to explore. That could be here the Middle East. But North America and Asia are also possible candidates. That has to be well discussed because it's not just about showing up once in five or six years. Chelsea did things the right way. They worked the American market for five or six years and recently had a series of games to which 70,000 fans showed up. Something like that only works when potential is there, when the partners are with you and the league supports you. And things have gone ideally here in Dubai.
Does that mean there will never be another training camp in Belek?
No, saying that would be much too premature because apparently there are very good sporting and organisational conditions there. Besides, there are not that many alternatives for the winter break. And it will continue to be important in the future to optimally prepare the team. The heads of sport have a big say in that. Still, we want to create a new impulse and turn some screws. Maybe we will find a place where everything fits perfectly together.
So will there one day be Werder jerseys hanging in sports shops in Beijing, Dubai and Los Angeles?
Well, that is a very long, difficult road. But I believe that Bundesliga is on a good path to becoming the second strongest football league in the world. The English Premier League plays at a class above the Bundesliga and is dominantly represented world wide. But we could hold our own against the other leagues in the world with the DFL's activities in the last few years along with the new stadiums, our fan culture and the young average age of stadium visitors. But the league as a whole has to better utilise the resources abroad. We have to be pro-active like we are here in Dubai.
… for example with a Supercup final abroad?
I find that a very interesting thought. Such a finale would be played on neutral grounds anyhow.
With Werder, you will have to make sure in the future that the club has a solid economical standing. How would you define your part in the first couple days?
The reason for Werder having a solid base is a working community. But first of all it depends on the team. The sporting success is fundamental for everything else. If Werder are not playing internationally, then everything must be reconsidered. And we have think smaller goals.
Will you be more present in the public eye than your predecessor Manfred Müller?
No, I respect his work and his methods very much so. I will try to continue this way. Besides, we have a clear separation of duties. Klaus Allofs is not only responsible for the sports domain but as chairman of the board of directors he is also Werder's mouthpiece and figurehead. And the club has done very well like that in the last few years.
