Uwe Hünemeier visits Paderborn University
Students on Prof Dr Kirsten Thommes' "Organisational Behaviour" module were able to experience football from a completely different perspective. SC Paderborn 07 co-trainer Uwe Hünemeier visited Paderborn University and gave an insight into leadership lessons from professional football. Some students were initially unable to believe that what they had learnt at university would also play a role in football, but Hünemeier quickly made it clear that communication and leadership are sometimes the most important tools for turning individual players into a team.
From professional footballer to assistant coach
Hünemeier's career began in his home town of Rietberg-Bokel. There, he stood out in particular for his good performances at a young age. In 2000, he was promoted to Borussia Dortmund's youth academy. He also received his first professional contract as a Bundesliga player with BVB's second team. From then on, he played for Energie Cottbus, SC Paderborn 07 and Brighton & Hove Albion in England. The 38-year-old finally moved to SCP 07 for the 2018/19 season, where he took on the position of team captain, among other things, before joining the coaching team led by Lukas Kwasniok in 2023.
Hünemeier knew early on that he would become a leader. He always saw it as his job to coordinate and develop the team on the pitch. For a leader, it is not only essential to play well, but also to be able to communicate. "I think it's essential to address things that aren't working. That's the only way to improve in the short or long term," says Hünemeier.
Leadership lessons from professional football
He has been working as a coach since 2023. The special thing about it - Hünemeier does not yet have a coaching licence. Above all, his excellent ability to recognise potential and develop it has enabled him to do so. Both fundamental tasks in leadership. Hünemeier also uses his experience on the pitch and his awareness of the team to his advantage. Even though he can no longer influence the game directly, he still enjoys communicating directly with the players.
The students at Paderborn University were able to learn a lot from Hünemeier. "I think that anyone who wants to work in leadership later on could take something away from this lecture," said Johanna, a student who attended the lecture out of interest.
During his visit, Hünemeier gave an insight into the life of a professional footballer and made a direct appeal to the students: "We will need more and more people in the future who have the courage to take responsibility and bring about change."
