Werder legend Jürgen Born celebrates his 85th birthday and looks back!

Werder legend Jürgen Born celebrates his 85th birthday and looks back!

On September 24, 2025, Jürgen L. Born, a former CEO of SV Werder Bremen, will celebrate his 85th birthday. Born on September 24, 1940 in Bremen and raised as an only child, Born looks back on a multifaceted career that includes both sporting and business success. After his time as a defender for TuS Schwachhausen in the 1960s, his path took him all over the world - via Argentina to the Deutsche Bank business in South America, where he worked for more than 30 years and managed the business in Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil. He later used this impressive network to acquire players at Werder Bremen, where he took over as chairman of the board from 1999 to 2009 without ever receiving a salary.

Born, who now lives in Spain and follows the events surrounding the Bremen team with great attention, has a lifelong season ticket for the VIP rank in the Weser Stadium. He recently visited Bremen's training camp in Zillertal and was positive about the team's start to the season. “It shows that many players have potential,” said Born, who noted, however, that there is still room for improvement in terms of consistency. One of the keys to the team's development is time, he emphasizes and praises the new coach Horst Steffen for his calm and friendly manner, especially in times of crisis.

A look into the past and the challenges of the future

The time in the Bundesliga wasn't always easy for Born. He resigned in 2009 following allegations of misconduct in connection with transfer dealings, after initially being cleared of the allegations by a report from accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Since then, his commitment to the club has been in a different way: He regularly meets with old acquaintances from his playing days and remains loyally connected to current player events.

Born also finds clear words about the challenges that Werder Bremen is facing. “I hope that we have less bad luck with injuries and that mistakes in the passing game are minimized,” he said, expressing his wishes for the upcoming games. On his birthday he will hold a meeting with numerous well-known faces from Werder's past, which will be a celebratory opportunity for both him and his former companions to refresh shared memories.

In his life, Born not only shaped the club, but also served as Uruguayan honorary consul after his return to Germany. His commitment to SV Werder Bremen did not end with his resignation. In 2011 he was awarded the Golden Badge of Honor, and his autobiography “The Born Identity”, published in 2012, provides insights into his perspective on things, not least the allegations he had to deal with.

For SV Werder Bremen fans, he remains a legend whose heart beats for the club, no matter where he is. Dike room reports that Born regularly follows the team's developments and wants to build on their successes.

With a celebratory life and the challenges of today, Born has already experienced many chapters. It remains to be seen how SV Werder Bremen will develop in the current Bundesliga season and whether they can live up to the wishes of the former chairman.

Further information about the exciting story of Jürgen L. Born can also be found in his comprehensive Wikipedia page.