Revealed: German club turn to AI to sign new players, coach and director amid huge overhaul following Bundesliga relegation

Bochum’s return to the Bundesliga in 2021 was a fairytale comeback as it was their first time in the top-flight in over a decade. But just three years later, that success has turned into a sobering reality. Relegation in 2024 has forced the club to reassess everything from leadership to long-term strategy. The cracks began to show after the dismissal of head coach Dieter Hecking and sporting director Dirk Dufner this September. Since then, questions have swirled over who would take charge of rebuilding the club.

CEO Andreas Luthe and management spokesman Ilja Kaenzig were left juggling responsibilities, while multiple coaching changes in a short span of three weeks revealed how chaotic the internal structure had become. Bochum's fall has prompted a deep rethink around how the club can emerge stronger, more modern and less dependent on traditional scouting or leadership hierarchies. The answer, surprisingly, may lie in technology.

Bochum are integrating artificial intelligence into their sporting operations. The club are reportedly in discussions with Plaier, a data-driven football analytics platform that uses advanced algorithms to scout and predict player performance. Under this plan, Plaier’s system would not just suggest potential signings, it would also assist in contract evaluations, player development tracking, and even help identify a suitable sporting director. According to Sport Bild, the partnership could cost over €100,000 per year, with additional bonuses tied to successful transfers and AI-identified player profits.

The man leading this shift is Till Gronemeyer,  a new key figure in Bochum’s rebuild. He envisions an integrated approach where AI supplements and, at times, replaces traditional scouting structures. Few clubs have gone this far. While top European teams like Liverpool, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich employ AI for injury prevention and tactical analysis, Bochum’s model aims to give artificial intelligence a decision-making role at the club.

Gronemeyer’s approach has already shaped the shortlist for new hires. One leading candidate for the sporting director post was Maximilian Hahn, West Ham’s head of scouting known for his data-driven methods. However, Bochum couldn’t meet his salary demands as his pay at the London Stadium exceeds €200,000 annually which is well above the club’s current budget.

Another option is Bernd Korzynietz, a former Borussia Monchengladbach player and current youth scout at Bayer Leverkusen. Unlike Hahn, Korzynietz brings a more human, intuitive approach. His candidacy, reportedly pushed by Gronemeyer, reflects Bochum’s search for balance between AI precision and human instinct. Former striker Simon Zoller is also expected to play a part to bridge the gap between AI and player development.

Bochum’s experiment comes at a crossroads moment as the club’s relegation has underscored the need for structural renewal, and embracing AI might just offer a competitive edge. Plaier's database could help Bochum identify undervalued talent perfectly suited to their tactical and financial realities by forecasting player growth over a three to six year period, the system offers something traditional scouting often misses: predictive performance. Still, success will depend on integration, AI can offer the blueprint, but human elements like leadership, motivation, and instinct will decide if Bochum rise again.