SV Wehen Wiesbaden and 1. FSV Mainz 05 have agreed a comprehensive cooperation and signed a partnership agreement. The partnership between the two neighbouring clubs covers the sporting side, from the professional squad and the youth academies to, prospectively, women’s and girls’ football, as well as exchange at organisational and staff level.
In sporting terms, the two clubs will work together in squad planning, scouting, talent development and player retention. The youth academies will connect their development structures and make use of joint scouting measures, while players from both clubs are to be given additional development opportunities in the environment best suited to them. Women’s and girls’ football will be considered from the outset as the cooperation continues to take shape.
Beyond the sporting side, both clubs will open up their training and development programmes to each other and enable work-shadowing opportunities for staff from all areas, creating a transfer of knowledge ranging from coach education to club management. A steering committee with equal representation from both clubs will oversee the cooperation and develop it step by step.
Stefan Hofmann, club and board chairman of 1. FSV Mainz 05: “The two locations have much more in common than you might think at first glance. We are united by strong regional roots, a clear understanding of the importance of youth development and the ambition to sustainably develop football at our locations and therefore in our region.”
Tobias Keller, spokesperson of the management board of SV Wehen Wiesbaden: “This cooperation is comprehensive in scope and creates strategic added value for both sides, in sporting terms as well as organisationally. Two clubs from two state capitals, separated by only a few kilometres: that is a unique constellation. We are pooling our strengths in order to develop greater collective impact in a highly competitive market, on equal terms and with the clear aim of sustainably strengthening both locations.”
Christian Heidel, board member for sport of 1. FSV Mainz 05: “There has been very good exchange between the leadership levels of SV Wehen Wiesbaden and 1. FSV Mainz 05 for some time. From this, the idea emerged to meaningfully connect the sporting expertise of both locations and their respective networks. Through mutual exchange on equal terms, both clubs and players ultimately benefit, as we can open up even better prospects for them.”
Uwe Stöver, managing director sport of SV Wehen Wiesbaden: “In sporting terms, we benefit from each other in squad planning, scouting and the development of our talents. We are opening up our structures to one another, learning from each other and creating additional opportunities for players on both sides. At the same time, one thing remains clear: we make our sporting decisions ourselves. The cooperation expands our scope for action and strengthens our development work from the academy through to the professional level.”
