▲ A strong “women’s wind” is blowing through German football. Bundesliga club Hamburg SV officially announced on Monday the appointment of Kathrin Krüger as their new sporting director, making her the first female sporting director in German football history. © German ‘Bavarian Football Works’
[Sportswatch News] The winds of change are sweeping through German football, shattering long-standing barriers.
The official Bundesliga website reported on Monday (KST) that “Hamburg SV has officially appointed Kathrin Krüger (40) as their new sporting director.” Krüger steps into the role vacated by Stefan Kunz, who left Hamburg in January.
Her appointment marks a historic milestone: Krüger becomes the first woman ever to hold the title of sporting director in German football.
Krüger is a veteran of Bayern Munich. She joined the German powerhouse in 2009 as an assistant to then-sporting director Christian Nerlinger. Over the years, she climbed the ranks, becoming general manager three years later. In 2024, she was promoted to senior expert in sports strategy and development. Now, 17 years after first entering the club, she has reached a career-defining moment—being named the first female head of a top Bundesliga side.
“I’m truly delighted that Hamburg has trusted me with this important role,” Krüger said in her inaugural statement. “It is a great honor to play a key part in shaping the future of Hamburg, one of the biggest names in German football.”
Hamburg’s chairman, Michael Pfaffenbush, didn’t hide his high expectations. “Krüger is an iconic figure who has amassed world-class experience in Munich over many years,” he said. “She will now play a crucial role alongside director Eric Huber in determining the club’s strategic direction.”
The Bundesliga website also hailed the moment: “It’s a historic milestone that will be talked about in German football for years to come. Krüger, once called the most influential woman in the Bundesliga, becomes only the second female representative on Hamburg’s board since Katja Kraus, who served as the club’s marketing director from 2003 to 2011.”
▲ Kathrin Krüger is a true Bayern Munich product. She joined the German giant in 2009 as an assistant to then-sporting director Christian Nerlinger. Three years later, she became general manager, and by 2024 she had advanced to senior expert in sports strategy and development. Now, in her 17th year at Munich, she is taking on the role of the club’s first-ever female head, leaving a clear mark on both her career and German football history. © via José I. Araoz on social media
Krüger isn’t the only German woman making waves this year. Marie-Louise Eta (34), who made headlines as the first female head coach in Europe’s top five leagues, also turned heads by winning her first Bundesliga match just four games into her tenure.
Eta’s Union Berlin beat Mainz 3-1 away at the Mewa Arena on Saturday in the 33rd round of the 2025–26 Bundesliga season. The victory wrote new history: Eta became the first female manager ever to win a match in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
In her first three games, Eta had recorded one draw and two losses—a 1-2 defeat to Wolfsburg, a 1-3 loss to RB Leipzig, and a 2-2 draw against Cologne. But in her fourth outing, she finally secured the win, etching her name in European football record books.
▲ Marie-Louise Eta (pictured) is also making waves this year. In 2023, she became the first female head coach in the Bundesliga and the first female coach of a Champions League club. In 2024, she became the first woman to lead a men’s team as interim coach. Now, with her first official win in Europe’s top five leagues, she has further cemented her place in football history. © Yonhap News / AP
Eta’s career is a testament to perseverance. In 2023, she became the Bundesliga’s first female assistant coach and the first female coach of a men’s Champions League side. The following year, she became the first woman to serve as interim head coach for a men’s team. Now, by scoring the first win as a permanent female head coach in Europe’s top leagues, she has set the stage for even greater achievements in the seasons ahead.