Calmund leaves Leverkusen

Reiner Calmund has taken the surprise decision to retire as managing director of Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Holzhäuser taking over
Calmund will resign at the end of the month, leaving Wolfgang Holzhäuser to take his place as the board's spokesman from the beginning of July. "After 27 years working on the front line, I am no longer able to mentally and physically stand the demands of this job 100 per cent," Calmund said.

Right time
In a press release, Calmund explained that he had long been considering stepping down from his position but decided to delay the decision until he felt the club had laid the foundations for future success. After a third-placed finish in this season's Bundesliga, the popular club figurehead decided that it was time to go.

Successful spell
Calmund has helped to establish Leverkusen as a major force in German football, after winning the UEFA Cup in 1987/88, the German Cup in 1992/93 and latterly reaching the final of the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League and narrowly missing out on the Bundesliga title and a second German Cup in the same season.