German football club Werder Bremen have sacked their head coach, Ole Werner, after he refused to extend his contract with the club beyond 2026.
The 37-year-old was let go on Tuesday, just a day after reports from Germany said he turned down an offer to renew his deal. In an official statement, the club said:
“We deeply regret Ole’s decision because we envisioned a long-term collaboration with him. As we need clarity and continuity in the head coaching position, we have decided to release Ole.”
Werner joined Bremen in 2021 when the club was in Germany’s second division. He helped them return to the Bundesliga in his first season and later led them to two straight top-half finishes.
This season, Bremen finished just one point away from qualifying for European competitions — a feat they haven’t achieved since the 2010–11 season.
Despite his success, the club chose to act quickly after Werner made his plans known. Bremen explained that they needed to prepare early for the future.
Werner’s exit adds to the growing list of Bundesliga clubs currently without a head coach. Others include RB Leipzig, Wolfsburg, Cologne, and Augsburg.
Werder Bremen are four-time Bundesliga champions and have won the German Cup six times.
Werner has not yet commented on his next move.
