In the spring and summer, a number of doors were open to Ole Werner, but the 33-year-old football coach decided to stay at Holstein Kiel even after narrowly missing out on promotion to the Bundesliga. Then, in mid-September, he surprisingly resigned. In an interview with kicker (Monday edition), he explains for the first time the reasons for his decision to stay and his subsequent departure.
The Preetz native has of course noticed that the timing of his resignation has caused astonishment in the public. And in an interview with kicker (Monday edition), he expresses understanding. “Now, looking in the rear-view mirror, I can totally understand this question about the timing. From the outside, it’s easy to say that I would have been better off taking the step in the summer. But it’s always about the inside view.” And he is remarkably open about that. “It was about loyalty and a sense of responsibility. Probably these points play a special role in the connection between me and Holstein. I’ve spent half my life at this club, so you certainly feel even more responsible.” So much so that he put any existing doubts to the back of his mind. “Loyalty and a sense of responsibility played a bigger role in my decision than complete conviction of a successful vision for the future.”
On the one hand,
Werner vigorously contradicts rumours that personal dissonance, for example when Dirk Bremser was appointed co-coach, played a role in his move, and also clearly emphasises the good personal cooperation with sporting director Uwe Stöver, but does not hide the fact that his withdrawal also has substantive reasons. “There have also been differences of opinion in the sporting direction and approach.” And above all the thought of what is best for his home club. “I did not choose the break for energy reasons. The basis of my decision was, as in the summer: what is right for Holstein Kiel?” And from his point of view, that was just himself after losing the relegation, but after the difficult start to the new season, “a new impulse from outside. “
Werner ignores the thought of whether it might have been more beneficial for his own career to have followed various lure calls in the spring of this year. “The final phase of last season was very intense. My thoughts of maximum success with Holstein were at the forefront at all times. I could certainly have held parallel talks, but I consciously decided against it. “