Matthias Tillmann: Lead the club together with clarity, courage and conviction

Matthias, Frank Baumann will begin his role as board member for sport at Schalke on 1st June. Why do you think his appointment is so important for the club?
Frank Baumann stands for sporting clarity, proven competence and a consistent approach. He has everything that Schalke 04 needs right now: a deep knowledge of the football business, a strategic mindset and a confident presence. Both the supervisory board and the board are certain that he’s the right person to sustainability structure the sporting side of the club. Frank will help shape our structures, our strategies and the footballing side too.

Once Frank Baumann joins the club, the board will once again have three members. Why is this now the right move?
There are a wide range of tasks that need to be completed at a club like Schalke 04. In hiring Frank, we have found someone that can lead and develop the sporting side of the club. At the same time, things like the ‘Auf Schalke eG’ cooperative, as well as sponsoring and marketing, are other big tasks that I can now dedicate more time to. Christina can now also fully focus on other important things such as the refinancing of the bond.

As someone that was involved in the search process, what were the most important attributes you were looking for when hiring a new board member for sport?
Competence, clarity, experience and the ability to work in a team. Frank possesses all these attributes. He’s done it all in professional football. He was a player, then a captain and since his playing career his roles have included being a sporting director and then a managing director for sport. He knows football inside and out and understands the specific dynamics of the game. We wanted to bring someone to Schalke who would support the path we embarked on over a year ago and help shape the future together with our staff. Starting over from scratch was never something we considered.

Your future colleague will bring the experience of several years at Werder Bremen with him to his new role. What makes him a good fit for Schalke 04?
Schalke and Bremen are different clubs, but there are structural and cultural similarities: both clubs stand for tradition, passion and are also familiar with facing financial challenges. Frank knows how to work successfully with limited resources and brings the right understanding of the Schalke DNA to the table.

What can Frank expect in the weeks leading up to his official start date on 1st June and how is he preparing himself?
He’s already involved and has been taking part in several meetings in order to gain a deeper insight into the structures, processes and people here. This will allow him to be fully prepared to take up the job on 1st June.

How will Frank Baumann fit in with the current board? How do you complement each other?
Christina and I have already gotten to know Frank and have spoken extensively with him. I’m convinced that we will work very well together as a trio. Our roles are clearly defined: Christina is responsible for finances, personnel and legal, while the overall responsibility of running the board falls on my shoulders, as do the areas of marketing and strategy. Frank will be responsible for the sporting side. This is what makes us strong – clearly defined roles and a strong team spirit.

As mentioned, your role involves taking responsibility of the strategic decisions made by the board. What role does sport play in the overarching strategy of Schalke 04?
A very large one, of course! Our members and fans are the beating heart of our club, while sport lies at the very core of our strategy. Having a clearly defined sporting concept is the foundation for financial success, identity and excitement. That is why I am looking forward to now continuing down this path together with Frank.

In your opinion, how well prepared are Schalke for both the upcoming transfer window and the next season?
We have put in a lot of the groundwork over the last months already in terms of our scouting, squad planning and sporting strategy. Much of that has been background work, which includes making inroads on defining our playing philosophy. Frank will inherit a stable foundation that he will be able to continue to develop and refine, together with the team.

What do you hope the next months will bring and what message do you have for the members of Schalke 04?
My hope is that we proceed into the future together as a club with a clear vision, courage and conviction. We’re working every day on getting Schalke back to where the club belongs. The important thing is that we stick together and maintain our course, even in turbulent times. Continuity and a clear plan are the only way that we will manage to achieve our goals together.