Clemens Fritz will be promoted to managing director football at Werder Bremen from summer onwards, the Bundesliga club said on Thursday.
Former Bremen captain Fritz is currently head of professional football at the northern German club and in his new function will take over from Frank Baumann, another ex-captain who is stepping down.
Bremen had also talked with men from outside the club but supervisory board head Hubertus Hess-Grunewald said that "in the end Clemens was able to convince us with his strategy and his approach in several rounds of talks and thus prevailed against the strong competitors."
Fritz said: "I'm looking forward to the new task, I'm very motivated, but I also have the necessary respect for this challenge.
"We have seen a very positive development at Werder in recent years. I am convinced that we will continue this together as a team and also with my fellow managing directors."
