Tatjana Haenni has been named as the head of RB Leipzig's management board in an expanded leadership structure for the Bundesliga club. The club revealed the news in a statement on Wednesday, noting that Haenni would start on January 1, 2026.

The 59-year-old Swiss takes over where former RB boss Oliver Mintzlaff started, and in doing so becomes the first woman to take on the club boss role in German football.

"I am very much looking forward to this new role. I am convinced that with strong teamwork and a focus on RB Leipzig's strengths, we can tap into significant potential," Haenni said in a club statement.

"I can’t wait to get started in January and to get to know the club on a deeper level," the Swiss added. 

"Together, we want to continue on what is already a successful path, and achieve our ambitious goals."

Haenni is a former player who made 23 appearances for her country. She also possesses a wealth of experience in football administration having worked for UEFA, FIFA and the Swiss Football Association.

"In our discussions, she impressed us and the committees with her expertise, as well as her combination of specialist knowledge, leadership strength and strategic thinking," Mintzlaff, now chair of RB Leipzig's supervisory board, said.

Other women have reached the higher levels of management at German football clubs before, such as Anne-Kathrin Laufmann (managing director of sport and sustainability at Werder Bremen), Christina Rühl-Hamers (chief financial officer at Schalke) or Katja Kraus (former head of communications and marketing at Hamburg). However, a woman had never previously held the top job.

Edited by: Chuck Penfold