Simon Rolfes (born 26 April 1972 in Gelsenkirchen, West Germany) is a German former professional footballer and football executive. After a playing career primarily as a midfielder, he transitioned to club management and has held senior operative positions at Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Playing career
- Youth clubs: Began his football development with local clubs in the Gelsenkirchen area.
- Senior clubs:
- VfL Bochum (1995–1998) – Competed in the 2. Bundesliga, making several league appearances.
- Alemannia Aachen (1999) – Played in the lower tiers of German football.
- Rolfes retired from professional play in the early 2000s, having not featured extensively in the Bundesliga.
Executive career
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Joined the club’s management staff in 2008 as a board member responsible for youth development and scouting.
- Sporting Director: Promoted to sporting director in 2012, overseeing player recruitment, contract negotiations, and the overall sporting strategy of the club. Under his tenure, Bayer Leverkusen regularly qualified for UEFA competitions and maintained a strong domestic league presence.
- Chief Executive Officer: In December 2022, Rolfes was appointed chief executive officer (Geschäftsführer) of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, merging the responsibilities of the sporting director and the club’s top administrative role.
Personal life
- Rolfes holds a degree in business administration, which he obtained alongside his football career.
- He is known for advocating a data‑driven approach to player scouting and development.
References
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen official communications announcing Rolfes’ appointments.
- German football archives documenting his playing statistics.
This entry summarizes verifiable, publicly available information about Simon Rolfes without speculative content.
