Bremen bosses extend deals

Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf and director of football Klaus Allofs have both extended their contracts, which were due to expire in the summer, by two and three years respectively, the Bundesliga club announced today. After months of negotiations, the pair have agreed to continue a partnership which has lasted almost 13 years. "Today is a beautiful day," said Allofs. "We have followed a long and successful path together and it is now an attractive challenge to proceed even further along it. We want to build on the successes of recent years." Bremen won a league and cup double in 2004 and won the DFB-Pokal again in 2009, when they also reached the final of the UEFA Cup. The DFB-Pokal was the first trophy Schaaf won after being promoted from reserve-team coach to replace Felix Magath in May 1999, and he will take his tenure into a 15th season from next August. "It is fantastic that we can further continue our mutual path," he said. "We have a lot in mind and we want to carry on trying to give our team a distinctive face." Bremen's chairman Willi Lemke announced the new contracts at a press conference today, saying he is "extremely delighted" to have been able to lead the negotiations to a successful conclusion. "Our aim was to reach an agreement before Christmas, and we have managed it," he added. Should Schaaf fulfil his new contract, he will become the club's all-time longest-serving coach, replacing Otto Rehhagel.