October 29: Marcel Wontorra has been appointed as the first general manager of the Frauen-Bundesliga as Germany’s top women’s division becomes independent from the Football Association (DFB).
The 35-year-old is currently COO of streaming platform Dyn Sport, where he has been part of the leadership team since 2022, after several years at publisher Axel Springer. He is the son of veteran TV presenter Jörg Wontorra and the brother of broadcaster Laura Wontorra. Its start date is not confirmed.
Wontorra has said he wants to grow the league’s media and digital presence and make it more attractive to fans, players and business partners, targeting both sporting and economic growth.
His appointment follows the DFB’s decision at an extraordinary congress on September 18 to approve the separation of the league. A foundation and lease agreement will take effect on July 1 next year, according to OneFootball.
Under the new structure, the league will operate through a GmbH subsidiary responsible for the organization, marketing and development of the league, all under the leadership of Wontorra.
Streaming and digital growth are central to the plan, and Wontorra’s background in a sports streaming platform gives the league someone who understands how audiences are built and monetized.
It also brings Germany closer to the model already in place in England, where the women’s Super League was taken out of direct FA control and placed under an independent company in 2024. The move was designed to attract investment and accelerate commercial growth, and the Frauen-Bundesliga is now following a similar path.
The league has significant ground to make up. Germany has a strong history in the women’s game, with eight European Championships and two World Cups, but its domestic league has lagged behind England in revenue, attendances and broadcast value in recent years.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster. At (email protected)
