Tremmel retires - and takes new Swans role

Gerhard Tremmel is to join the Swansea City staff after bringing the curtain down on his playing career.

Tremmel’s six-year stint as a player at the Liberty Stadium came to an end when his contract expired this summer.

But the 38-year-old’s association with the Swans is to continue after he was handed a new role as European recruitment assistant.

Tremmel, who will be based in his native Germany, will be part of the Swans’ scouting team.

As well as trying to unearth talented players, Tremmel will look into the possibility of sending Swans youngsters on loan to German clubs.

“After my great spell at Swansea ended, I have decided to retire as a player,” Tremmel said.

“But I always had in mind to do something in football when I finished playing.

“I think I have a good eye for talent and this idea came up. I am going to have a go and see how it works out.

“I hope obviously that I can help the club.

“It’s new for me of course and I have to find my way in the role a little bit. But I really like what I am doing. I believe I can help the club to bring some talented players in.

“I have a lot of ideas. I have spoken to many people already and I think this could be very good.”

Tremmel spent almost two decades playing senior football. In his homeland he represented Unterhaching, Hannover 96, Hertha Berlin and Energie Cottbus, while there was also a brief spell on loan at Werder Bremen in 2016.

Tremmel had a season with Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg before he joined the Swans following their promotion to the Premier League in 2011.

A popular figure in the dressing room, he was a dependable goalkeeping option throughout his time with the Swans, and famously played in every round of the club’s 2012-13 League Cup triumph.

While he will be based in Germany, Tremmel’s new job will see him going on his travels.

“I will be doing the majority of my scouting in Europe,” he explained.

“I will travel a lot – watching games and speaking to club representatives.

“I will also be coming over to the UK. I need to stay in touch with the team over here – I need to feel what is happening at the club – while I also have to speak to the chairman, the manager and the chief scout.”

Tremmel believes his successful stint as a Swan will give him an advantage as he looks to find players who can thrive in SA1.

“Swansea is a special place,” he said.

“If you bring players in, you have to make sure they fit. That is in terms of character, not just how they play.

“There are a lot of things you need to be a Swansea player, and I know exactly what it takes having been one myself for a number of years.”

While his priority will be finding players to bring to Wales, Tremmel will look at the possibility of arranging loan deals which would see Swans prospects sampling German football.

“I don’t think we as a club have looked into the German market as much as we can,” he said.

“There are great options for players to go there on loan or maybe in some cases on a permanent basis.

“Everybody has seen how much success the German national sides have had at various levels. For young players, rather than going to a League One or League Two team, there may be a chance to go to a second division team in Germany.

“I think that could be a great experience for them. There is a lot you can gain, so I hope I can make some things happen.”