Martin Schmidt leaves Mainz 05: An emotional farewell after 12 years!

Martin Schmidt leaves Mainz 05: An emotional farewell after 12 years!

Martin Schmidt finally leaves FSV Mainz 05. The 57-year-old ended his advisory activity with the completion of the winter transferode on February 11, 2025, as the club announced on Friday. Previously, Schmidt had given up his post as sports director for private reasons in the summer of 2024. Overall, he worked in various functions for Mainz 05 over a period of twelve years.

Schmidt described his farewell as emotional and emphasized that it was the right time to say thanks and say goodbye. As part of his statements, he emphasized that Mainz 05 had shaped his life and that he was now willing to accept new projects and challenges. The association's sports director, Christian Heidel, praised the cooperation with Schmidt and described him as a personal friend of the club.

career path by Martin Schmidt

Schmidt joined the U23 coach in the Mainz 05 youth performance center and successfully brought the team into the third division. In February 2015, he took over the association's professional team, with which he reached the group phase of the UEFA Europa League. After a departure from the club in 2017, Schmidt returned as a sports director at the end of 2020 and played a crucial role in stabilizing the team despite considerable difficulties in the Bundesliga.

His withdrawal from the sports director post in the summer of 2024 led to him acting as a sporting consultant during the following months. This role ended. His tasks in the club are now taken over by sports director Niko Bungerert, technical director Meikel Schönweitz and Bernd Legien, the director of scouting and analysis.

Schmidt's legacy

During his time at FSV Mainz 05 Schmidt left not only a sporty, but also an emotional footprint. His many years of belonging to the club and the various roles that he held during this time make him a concise figure in the club's history. The fans and the club management will regret his retreat as well as they appreciate his merits. Schmidt’s connections to Mainz 05, which are characterized by friendship and mutual respect, will certainly continue to live in the memories of the club members and supporters in the future.