Hertha and Friedrich part ways with immediate effect
Hertha BSC sporting director Arne Friedrich has left the club with immediate effect.
Hertha BSC and sporting director Arne Friedrich have parted ways, the Bundesliga club have announced today.
Friedrich was due to leave the club at the end of the season, but the 42-year-old and the club have now mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect.
"We would like to thank Arne Friedrich from the bottom of our hearts, for his drive and support in the last two and a half years. In an open discussion it was decided that, with a view to planning for the upcoming season, it would make more sense to part company now," said Hertha director of sport Fredi Bobic.
Friedrich, who played for Hertha as an active player between 2002 and 2010, commented:
"I returned to Hertha BSC in the autumn of 2019 to stand by the club and do my bit in stabilising it. We have come through the different challenges together and I have always had the feeling that I had everybody’s full trust.
"For many different reasons, I have come to feel over the last few months that my influence on important sporting decisions is no longer sufficient for me to fulfil my role as sporting director. As a result, we have come to the mutual decision to part company now.
"I am and I always will be a Herthaner. I hope that the team and everybody who is connected to the club has the short and medium term success, that the club and its people have earned."
The decision comes following a poor run of form, which has seen Hertha fail to pick up a win in 2022.