New Dual Leadership  

©Transfermarkt

The management of Transfermarkt will be restructured on January 1, 2025. Transfermarkt founder Matthias Seidel will end his role as managing director and will henceforth focus on his role as a shareholder. Simon Torrico, the current Commercial Director, will join the management team and become part of the new dual leadership alongside Thomas Lintz, who has held this role since 2017. Seidel says: “Of course, it makes you a bit sad to finally hand over the operational reins after 24 years – it feels a bit like saying goodbye. But I also see a great opportunity here! Even in my role as a shareholder, I see my focus on product innovations, especially in the field of artificial intelligence. There are incredibly exciting opportunities for media, football, and fans.”

In 2000, the first version of Transfermarkt started with a ring binder design, which looked very different from how Transfermarkt looks today. Seidel wanted to provide green-and-white news and information as a Werder Bremen fan even in Hamburg. “Thomas Schaaf is the new coach, his first transfer period is coming up, and who does he want to sign? The all-important question…”, recalls Seidel, when asked about his first post on the website. Seidel on the newly formed dual leadership: “Thomas and Simon will jointly take over the management. Thomas has shown in the past that he knows the Transfermarkt brand inside and out, and Simon will strengthen the management because he has proven with his expertise that he can advance Transfermarkt.”

In 24 years, his life’s work has gone from the lower leagues of online media to the Champions League, and on the way to becoming a global brand with domains in 25 countries, the 56-year-old has practically taken on every position. “I have held almost every role: programmer, graphic designer, journalist, SEO expert, UI designer, community manager, accountant. And every time I found someone who could competently take over the task, and allowed me to hand it over to focus on new areas,” Seidel summarizes. The departing managing director continues to carry Transfermarkt in and on his heart. “Only my role changes, but my commitment and passion remain. The tattoo with the Transfermarkt logo on my chest will not be lasered away.”