Overview
- Holstein Kiel confirmed the 39-year-old former forward will join the club's staff in a scouting role to work behind the scenes rather than as a coach.
- Managing director Olaf Rebbe praised Bartels as an “absolute identification figure” and said the club expects him to bring football expertise and knowledge of the club's values.
- Bartels said he sees the job as a chance to learn the other side of the game and to help guide Holstein Kiel after his playing career ended in 2023.
- Bartels spent his career in northern Germany with Hansa Rostock, FC St. Pauli, Werder Bremen and Holstein Kiel, where he made 137 appearances with 28 goals and 12 assists.
- The appointment is part of a broader sporting reset at Kiel following relegation and a mid-season coaching change that left the club focused on rebuilding its recruitment and football operations.