Werder Bremen have parted ways with head coach Ole Werner after the 37-year-old informed the club he would not be extending his contract beyond 2026.
The Bundesliga side confirmed the decision on Tuesday, just a day after German media reported that Werner had rejected an offer to renew his current deal. In response, the club opted to release him immediately to ensure stability moving forward.
In an official statement, Werder Bremen expressed disappointment at Werner’s stance, saying, “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 took over in 2021 when the club was in the second division and led them to immediate promotion back to the Bundesliga. Since then, he has helped stabilise Bremen in the top flight, with the team improving their league position each season under his guidance. This year, the club finished just one point short of European qualification — their best finish in years, having not played in European competition since the 2010–11 season.
Werder Bremen now join a growing list of Bundesliga clubs in search of a new manager, including RB Leipzig, Wolfsburg, Cologne, and Augsburg. Werner’s departure adds intrigue to the summer managerial shuffle across Germany’s top division.
