Auf Schalke eG reshapes board as focus turns to strengthening the Knappenschmiede

Auf Schalke eG is entering a new phase, with Jürgen Gerdes set to serve as honorary chair of the Cooperative alongside Christina Rühl-Hamers and Michael Kalthoff on a three-person board.

Gerdes, a former member of the management board at Deutsche Post DHL Group and, most recently, managing director of the Porta group, will serve on a voluntary basis – as will his fellow board members. Christina Rühl-Hamers, board member responsible for finance at FC Schalke 04, joins the board, while Michael Kalthoff, CEO of RAG Aktiengesellschaft, remains on the board and provides continuity.

With many years of senior management experience on the board at a DAX-listed company, Gerdes is set to play a central role in shaping the Cooperative going forward. Sven Kirstein, chairman of the Cooperative’s supervisory board, said: “Jürgen is an outstanding hire who will help drive the further development and profile of Auf Schalke eG with great commitment and real expertise. As an experienced executive, he brings extensive strategic know-how and, thanks to his long-standing connection to FC Schalke 04, genuine passion for the club.” Kirstein also highlighted Gerdes’ strength as a networker. “He has the ability to bring different people together and get them behind a shared goal. Jürgen is also someone who loves tackling issues head-on and turning ideas into action.”

A Schalke member since 1991 and a Cooperative shareholder himself, Gerdes is relishing the challenge ahead. “Our mission is clear: to help make Schalke strong through its own means. That is why, as a Cooperative, we want to acquire up to 49% of the shares in the VELTINS-Arena stadium company. Every purchase of stadium shares injects fresh equity into the club. At the same time, our home remains in the hands of the members. That safeguards the club’s long-term future,” said Gerdes.

Gerdes also sees major opportunities for the Cooperative’s members. “As a multi-purpose events venue, the VELTINS-Arena generates predictable income, part of which flows back to the Cooperative. That makes it a solid long-term investment for the eG – one built to hold its value across generations.”

Founding board member Matthias Tillmann is stepping down from his role as planned after helping establish the Cooperative over the past two years. Kirstein thanked the club’s CEO: “Matthias has done important work for our Cooperative and laid the foundations for the years ahead. It was always the plan that, once the start-up phase was complete, he would once again devote his full attention to his role at the club.” Kirstein added that the time for that step has now come. “More than 8,300 members have bought shares, making the Cooperative’s first purchase of shares in the stadium company possible. That means the first major milestone has now been reached.”

Sporting and financial success

With the new three-person board in place, the supervisory board believes the Cooperative is ideally positioned for its next phase of development. “Tackling the next chapter of the Cooperative alongside Christina is only logical – and we are delighted she has agreed to do it. We are equally pleased that we can continue to rely on Michael’s management and financial expertise. He played a key role in delivering major steps such as the acquisition of the first stadium shares,” commented Kirstein.

With their mix of professional expertise, a deep connection with Schalke and the courage to break new ground, the three board members will build on what began when shares first went on sale in 2025: using the strength of the community to keep strengthening FC Schalke 04. The focus now is on the club’s sporting core – identifying and developing top talent, and creating the environment for them to perform at the highest level. Above all, that means building a Knappenschmiede that can once again set the standard. The aim is to strengthen the club’s youth development in the long term.

The Cooperative is making that possible by gradually increasing its stake in the VELTINS-Arena stadium company. In February 2026, it acquired around 5.4% of the shares from the club in a deal worth approximately €7.5 million. Looking ahead, the Cooperative hopes to make further purchases in the future. By steadily increasing its holding, it can give the club the backing it needs. The net proceeds Schalke 04 receives from selling stadium shares to the Cooperative are to be reinvested in the football business – above all in youth development. That is the decision taken by the club board.

“The Knappenschmiede is one of the best ways the club can develop talent. We need to put more into it again by investing, for example, in the right environment for young players to develop. The club needs money to do that. That is exactly what the Cooperative wants to provide by buying stadium shares,” stated Gerdes, backing the club board’s view.

For decades, Schalke’s Knappenschmiede has been regarded as one of Europe’s leading academies, producing dozens of Bundesliga and international players – including four members of Germany’s 2014 World Cup winning squad: Benedikt Höwedes, Manuel Neuer, Mesut Özil and Julian Draxler. Even now, the Knappenschmiede and legendary youth coach Norbert Elgert continue to produce players of real value to the club. Mika Wallentowitz, Vitalie Becker and Mertcan Ayhan, all graduates of the Knappenschmiede, are currently playing important roles in the first team. In the last five years alone, the club has brought in more than €50 million in transfer fees from the sale of academy graduates.

Strengthening the Knappenschmiede: turning talent into value

“It’s crucial that the club and the Cooperative are pulling in the same direction – and they are. Both boards are convinced that now is exactly the right time to make targeted investments in football and talent development,” added Christina Rühl-Hamers. “Investment in talent, infrastructure, scouting, recruitment, training and development is not an abstract idea. It’s the foundation S04 need if they are to remain competitive in the long term.”

Michael Kalthoff stressed: “The Knappenschmiede is the club’s biggest driver of progress – on the pitch because it brings quality into the first team, and financially because it creates value. By continuing to buy stadium shares, we are giving the club the support it needs and creating the financial room to keep developing the Knappenschmiede properly – so Schalke can continue to bring through the next generation of players and guide them into professional football.”

Jürgen Gerdes concluded: “Togetherness, independence and success – these are the things that define us. We founded the Cooperative to support the club. What drives me is the idea of Schalke 04 being successful through its own strength – without moving club’s football business into a separate company and without selling assets to third parties. We are the largest fully independent club in Germany, and we will earn success together. That is what makes us different, and it is also where our strength lies.”