Holzhauser reveals departure plans

Bayer Leverkusen chairman Wolfgang Holzhauser has declared his intention to step down from the role in 2014 and says he is already thinking about who can replace him. Holzhauser turns 62 on Friday and he says he does not want to remain in the business until the stress gets too much for him, which is why he plans to retire in two years time. "As things stand now, I am going to quit in the middle of 2014," he told the Express newspaper. "I have decided to pull out of the business. I can tell that this working under pressure is not getting any easier for me as the years pass. I will then do something charitable, and then I have a dream of opening up an Enoteca - just a small shop with Italian wines, that would be it." Yet before Holzhauser gets to taste and trade the Barolos and Spumantes, he still has a job to conclude, and that involves finding a suitable successor. "Of course that is one of my tasks," he said. "It is still open as to whether it will be an internal or external solution - this will ultimately be decided by the members. "I would then like to feed my successor into the role, and then I will be off. I don't want a big fuss to be made or any big send-off event, but of course I will say suitable farewells to all of my colleagues because we have a great team here." Holzhauser joined Leverkusen as general manager in 1998 while he moved into his current role with more responsibility in 2004. He has also worked as vice-president of the German Football League and German Football Association.