Jürgen L. Born
Jürgen Born | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 24, 1940 Berlin, Germany |
| Occupation(s) | Banking professional, football club executive |
| Years active | 1960s–2009 |
| Known for | Chief executive of Werder Bremen |
Jürgen Ludger Born (born 24 September 1940) is a German banking professional and former chief executive of the football club Werder Bremen. He stepped down in 2009 amid claims of improper conduct related to a player transfer.
Early life and education
Born, an only child whose father passed away early, was born in Berlin and raised in Bremen. During the 1960s, he played as a defender for TuS Schwachhausen. In 1969, he relocated to Argentina.
Career
Born dedicated more than three decades to Deutsche Bank across South America, overseeing branches in Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. Upon returning to Germany, he was named honorary consul for Uruguay.
In 1999, Born assumed the role of chairman of Werder Bremen's board, additionally managing finance and public relations without compensation. His efforts were key to securing the club’s financial stability and improving sporting achievements, utilizing his South American network to aid player acquisitions.
In March 2009, allegations emerged accusing Born of accepting illicit payments connected to the 2001 transfer of Peruvian striker Roberto Silva. Subsequent claims involving other transfers led to his resignation to safeguard the club’s integrity. A PricewaterhouseCoopers inquiry later found no evidence of misconduct. To honor his contributions, Werder Bremen granted him a lifetime season ticket upon his departure and awarded him the Goldene Ehrennadel ('gold needle of honour') in 2011.
In 2012, Born released his autobiography titled Die Born Identität, with all proceeds donated to charitable causes. He has publicly criticized his successor Willi Lemke for prematurely assuming his culpability during the controversy.