The New England Patriots have introduced Oliver Bierhoff as their Business Advisor for the DACH Region.

20 Oct, 2023

The New England Patriots have introduced Oliver Bierhoff as their Business Advisor for the DACH Region.

FOXBOROUGH - The New England Patriots have proudly announced the appointment of Oliver Bierhoff as their official business advisor, marking a significant step in the team's expansion efforts within Germany and the broader DACH region as part of the NFL's Global Markets Program.

Oliver Bierhoff will play a pivotal role in driving the Patriots' strategy for expanding and cultivating their fan base and footprint in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Leveraging his local leadership and extensive industry expertise, he will provide guidance on marketing, branding, and business development. Bierhoff, formerly an executive and the head of the German national team at the German Football Association, brings a wealth of personal and professional experience in fostering sports on a national scale.

Jen Ferron, Chief Marketing Officer for Kraft Sports and Entertainment, explained the rationale behind their decision, stating, "As we initiated our expansion into Germany, followed by Switzerland and Austria, we recognized the importance of enlisting an expert with a strong business background in the region to guide our efforts. Exploring and cultivating business relationships in Germany is a new frontier for us, and we are delighted to have Oliver on board as an advisor, given his unique experience in the German sports landscape. His understanding of the region's business and political dynamics will be instrumental as we continue to enhance our brand presence across the DACH region."

Oliver Bierhoff expressed his enthusiasm for joining the Patriots family and supporting the franchise's continued expansion in Europe, emphasizing the tremendous potential to make American football even more popular in the attractive DACH market.

In 2021, Germany was designated as an official "home market" for the New England Patriots through the NFL's Global Markets Program. The franchise further extended its reach by adding Switzerland and Austria as additional international home markets. The Patriots have been actively cultivating audiences in Germany for years, with substantial growth occurring after the acquisition of German talents Sebastian Vollmer in 2009 and Jakob Johnson in 2019.

About Oliver Bierhoff:

Oliver Bierhoff is a distinguished football professional who held roles as a manager and sports official for the Germany national team at the German Football Association from 2004 to 2022. His responsibilities also included overseeing the National Teams & Academy Directorate at the DFB from 2018 to 2022.

As a professional footballer, Bierhoff captained the Germany national team and achieved stardom as a striker for the Italian Serie A club AC Milan. He made history by scoring the first Golden Goal in soccer during the 1996 European Championship final. Bierhoff represented the German national team in 70 senior international matches, scoring 37 goals. He was the top scorer in the Italian Serie A league in 1998 and named Footballer of the Year in Germany. In 1999, he clinched the Italian championship with AC Milan.

In 2004, Bierhoff was appointed as the first manager of the German national soccer team. In this role, he played a pivotal role in professionalizing the Germany national team, leading them to victory in the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017. As the Managing Director of "National Teams & Academy," he unified women's and men's soccer, along with the DFB Academy, under one department with a unified strategy, a historic first in the sport. He also launched the youth soccer program "Project Future" in collaboration with the DFL.