DFL hires Benjamin Schmedes to lead expanded sports remit

The DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga is expanding its sporting operations and has named Benjamin Schmedes as Executive Vice President Sports and a member of its management board.Schmedes, 41, is currently Executive Football Director and a management board member at Danish top-flight club Brøndby IF. The appointment forms part of what the German league organisation described as a strategic realignment of football operations aimed at intensifying sporting development and cooperation with clubs, with a focus on strengthening German professional football’s long-term on-pitch competitiveness.Under the new structure, Schmedes will be responsible at management board level for all directorates dealing with sporting or sport-administrative matters. His remit will also include the Match Operations & Fans division, which will continue to be led by Ansgar Schwenken, who is stepping down from the management board after a decade in the role.Lenz said the DFL had been looking to sharpen its sporting focus alongside its existing legal, administrative and operational responsibilities, including match operations, competition organisation, player and transfer management and sports technology.Lenz said: “Benjamin Schmedes impressed us with his strong expertise, his perspective on German and international football, and his clear focus on the sporting priorities of the Bundesliga and the clubs. Together, we will intensify the sporting work of the DFL and the clubs as a key foundation for the future competitiveness of German football.“At the same time, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Ansgar Schwenken for his work and dedication over ten years as a Member of the Management Board. We are very pleased that Ansgar will remain with us as a valued colleague in the new structure.”Key elements of the DFL’s sporting development agenda include promoting top talents in youth and transition phases, strengthening club structures and supporting stakeholders linked to player development. The DFL said a temporary expert group is currently working on these topics, bringing together club representatives, external specialists, the German Football Association (DFB) and the DFL.The league body highlighted recent initiatives including plans for an additional U21 competition designed to provide more playing time for young talent, plus the launch of the joint DFB/DFL diploma course ‘Management in Youth Academies’. It also said internal structural changes are already being implemented to underpin future measures.