SSV Ulm 1846 Football Faces Crisis: Sports Director and Coach Dismissed Amid Toxic Team Atmosphere

SSV Ulm 1846 Fussball has announced the dismissal of sports director Markus Thiele and head coach Moritz Glasbrenner following a tumultuous period characterized by poor sporting results and internal team turmoil. The club currently sits in 18th place in the 3. Liga after 14 matchdays, placing it at risk of relegation to the Regionalliga, the fourth tier of German football.

Markus Thiele, who served as sports director since summer 2021, and Moritz Glasbrenner, appointed head coach in September 2023 as Robert Lechleiter’s successor, were relieved of their duties after numerous internal discussions. The club cited a lack of agreement and mutual trust as key reasons for the separation, describing the decision as amicable and fair. Co-coach Max Kohlenberg was also released alongside Glasbrenner. The club plans to announce further steps and successor arrangements soon.

This leadership change follows a period of stark decline for Ulm, which endured five losses in a row, including a heavy 0:5 defeat to Hansa Rostock. The sporting crisis has been compounded by internal unrest, with team captains Johannes Reichert and Christian Ortag sending an open letter to the club’s supervisory board. The letter highlighted a “toxic atmosphere” and a breakdown of trust between players, the coaching staff, and management. It called for urgent support and a complete sporting reset to address the deteriorating situation.

The club acknowledged the letter and confirmed ongoing discussions to resolve the issues but regretted the leak of confidential information that increased the unrest. Fans remain divided, with some optimistic that recovery is still possible. Ulm’s rapid rise from the Regionalliga to the 2. Bundesliga in recent years now hangs in jeopardy as the club confronts this significant crisis.

As the club navigates this challenging chapter, it expressed gratitude to Thiele, Glasbrenner, and Kohlenberg for their contributions and is focusing on restoring trust and stability within the squad to steer clear of relegation threats.