Werder Bremen women: Kupilas targets sustainable football ecosystem

Werder Bremen’s newly appointed Head of Women’s Football, Dominik Kupilas, says the club’s long-term success will depend on creating a strong and sustainable structure across the entire women’s programme.

Kupilas, who has held several roles at Werder Bremen including Head of Internalisation, recently moved into his new position. He believes the club’s focus must extend beyond the senior team and include the development sides, coaching staff and wider support structure.

“Investment from my perspective is not just the first team or the Bundesliga team but it’s to invest in the ecosystem. It’s very important for us to grow in every single area and every area we have in women’s soccer,” Kupilas said.

For Kupilas, that approach means developing every part of the programme rather than concentrating only on signing players or improving the first team’s position in the Bundesliga table.

“So, the investment is not only to buy players or to give the best for the first team to have a nice ranking on the table at the end of the season but as well to invest in the whole ecosystem around every pillar in women’s football.

“What it means as well is to invest in players, the coaches, the staff, so every single topic which gives us the best opportunity to be successful in all areas.”

Werder Bremen have already strengthened their squad during the season, with Japanese striker Mei Shimada among their new arrivals. Shimada scored on her Bundesliga debut for the club.

The club has also appointed former Germany international and Bayern Frauen player Lena Lotzen, who will begin her role in November 2026.

Kupilas accepts that the team and staff will need time to settle, with a number of new players and staff members arriving at the club. At the same time, Werder Bremen are aiming to remain competitive as investment in women’s football continues to grow across Germany.

“We have a lot of new players, lot of new members in the staff so I think we should give the team some time to find themselves and as I said before there are a lot of clubs coming up giving a lot to women’s football which is great but it’s a hard competition in this season and the upcoming season and we try to establish as a very good women’s football address in Germany,” he explained.

The club’s ambition is therefore not limited to immediate results. Kupilas said Werder Bremen want to establish themselves as a respected destination within German women’s football while creating the foundations for continued progress.

“So, this is maybe the one goal we have but as I said before, we have a lot of goals around and the most important goal for us is to build an ecosystem that allows us to be successful year by year.”

He said the club’s investment would cover players, coaches and staff, with the intention of giving every area of the women’s programme the best possible chance to succeed.