RB Leipzig announces changes to sporting structure
Christopher Vivell takes over as new technical director | Florian Scholz takes on role as commercial sporting director and CMO | Sporting director Markus Krösche remains in charge of first-team transfers and squad planning | Dr. Helge Riepenhof takes over new position as director of medicine and sports science
RB Leipzig have announced changes to its sporting structure in order to meet the increase in demand, and in order to better position the club in these areas for the future.
Oliver Mintzlaff:
"Reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League and qualifying for next year's competititon with our third place finish in the Bundesliga represents our best-ever season in the club's short history. However, we want to continue to grow and to develop.
That includes rethinking and restructuring certain processes. As a result, we have implemented a new sporting structure. This is a necessary change in order to meet the increasingly more complex demands in terms of personnel and administration and to ensure that we are well prepared for the future. In addition to our new management team led by Markus Krösche, Christopher Vivell and Florian Scholz, we have also restructured our medical/sports science department with the addition of Dr. Helge Riepenhof and hope to gain new expertise and input in this area as well."
Three new positions have been created and filled:
• Technical director: Christopher Vivell
• Commercial sporting director and CMO: Florian Scholz
• Director of medicine and sports science: Dr. Helge Riepenhof
Christopher Vivell, Florian Scholz and Markus Krösche will head up our management team.
Sporting director Markus Krösche:
Markus Krösche will remain in his role as sporting director and will remain responsible for decisions surrounding first-team transfers and squad planning.
Technical director Christopher Vivell:
Christopher Vivell will take over the new role of technical director. Most recently, 33-year-old was employed by FC Red Bull Salzburg, where he had been since 2015 (most recently as Head of Recruitment/Sports coordinator). Vivell was also employed by TSG Hoffenheim as their coordinator of matches, video analysis and scouting from 2010 to 2015.
Vivell will be responsible for heading up the scouting (including international) and recruitment department. In particular, he will be responsible for implementing the recruitment and transfer strategy for players from all relevant age groups, as well as ensuring the education and training of both coaches and players under the RBL philosophy.
Commercial sporting director and CMO Florian Scholz:
Effective immediately, Florian Scholz will take over as commercial sporting director and chief media officer. In this new role, he will be responsible for the commercial and administrative processes amongst both the first-team and youth player departments. His responsibilities will also include seeking ways in which to strengthen and streamline the ties between the corporate office, first team and academy at RBL going into the future. The 40-year-old will also continue to head the club's communications department. Chief commercial officer Matthias Reichwald will take over marketing responsibilies.
Diirector of medicine and sports science Dr. Helge Riepenhof:
As of 20th July, Dr. Helge Riepenhof has taken on a newly-created position as RB Leipzig's director of medicine and sports science. In this position, he is responsible for the structures and processes within all medical departments as well as in the core field of sports science.
His responsibilities in the medical department include coordinating between the team doctors and external specialists, as well as the physiotherapy and rehabilitation departments. In terms of sports science, his responsibilities include the areas of performance testing, data analysis, nutrition and sports psychology.
The 42-year-old specialises in orthopedic and emergency surgery and was most recently employed by the occupational insurance association at the UKH Hamburg, where he was the head of the rehabilitation and sports medicine department. He previously spent three years as a team doctor for AS Roma, having previously occupied a similar position during his three years with Brighton & Hove Albion.