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“Overreaching” | Steidten Treading on Lopetegui’s Toes at West Ham?..

Published

3 months ago

October 23, 2024

KELVIN

Steidten Treading on Lopetegui’s Toes at West Ham!!!

It was revealed yesterday that Edin Terzic is the name being lined up should the club decide to part ways with Julen Lopetegui. The news was reported by Florian Plettenburg, a journalist who has strong links to Tim Steidten.

West Ham's powershift thrusts Tim Steidten to the fore - can they do a Bayer Leverkusen? | Football News | Sky Sports

Fans are split over how the club find themselves in the current predicament. On paper it’s fairly simple that the Head Coach is responsible for the players at his disposal, performances and results on the pitch, whereas the Sporting Director is measured by the players he brings to the club.

At the end of last seasons 3-1 win against Luton Town, West Ham fans were chanting “Super Timmy Steidten” as he walked around the pitch along with the team, and clearly enjoyed the attention.

Fast forward to more difficult times and Steidten was pictured in the players tunnel before the Spurs game. Ex West Ham midfielder, Martin Allen described this as “unbelievable”. It certainly divided fans opinions on his role at the club.

Nigel Khan, West Ham podcaster and historian did not hide his feelings on the subject “He’s like a peacock pluming his feathers waiting for another club to come in and offer him a job. We’ve got a man there who is egotistical, looking at what he can achieve and can do for himself and I think in the long run it’s gonna be bad for West Ham”

West Ham’s powershift thrusts Tim Steidten to the fore..

Ironically Steidten has been sighted more at games than his brother Moritz, who joined the recruitment team in the summer. Hammers fans will be hoping that his brother is otherwise engaged trying to find a solution to the striker situation in advance of the January transfer window.

Under former manager David Moyes, Tim Steidten was banned from the training ground and dressing room, yet since then has been given more of a free reign, though he has been prevented from going on the pitch when the players warm up before a game, and told to stay in the technical area.

So is his personal touch with players creating a positive environment or is it undermining the manager and his coaching staff?

Steidten was born in 1979, and had a modest professional career as a footballer in the position of defensive midfielder. The club’s he played for in no particular order are VFL Oldenburg, VFB Oldenburg, SV Meppen between 2004-2006 registering one goal in 38 appearances, a brief spell in the US for the now defunct Seattle Sounders then Werder Bremen reserves, and FC Oberneuland.

As a football director he worked his way up to the position of Director of Football at Werder Bremen in 2017, having begun as a Youth Scout in 2008. In 2019 he joined Bayern Leverkusen, becoming their Technical Director in 2022, subsequently joining West Ham in July 2023.

Before joining West Ham, Chelsea interviewed him whilst Tottenham were also monitoring his progress. His CV was impressive – he has made no secret that he was involved in the signings of Serge Gnabry from Arsenal, Kevin De Bruyne on loan from Chelsea, Thomas Delaney from Copenhagen, and Davy Klaasson from Everton whilst at Werder Bremen.

At Bayern Leverkusen he over saw an influx of young talent from Moussa Diaby, Jeremy Frimpong, Edmond Tapsoba, Odilion Kossounou and Piero Hincapie. He also helped hire Xabi Alonso as manager.

Steidten is a big advocate of data forming a key part of the scouting process. So it was no surprise that Max Hahne was brought in by him as Head of Technical recruitment and analysis having previously worked together at Werder Bremen.

Earlier this year Steidten said that building a new look West Ham team is a five year project, he told NWZ online “A squad restructuring is always a four to five year project. I was at Werder and could have probably worked there longer. But I also wanted to experience something different, what I experience in England is good for my development.”