Felix Wiedwald is taking the next step in a very different field. The former Bundesliga goalkeeper will stand for the CDU in the Kommunalwahl in Verden on 13. September, running for both the Stadtrat and the Kreistag.
The move marks a clear transition from professional football into local politics. Wiedwald ended his playing career in 2022, but he has stayed close to the game and now works as a scout in the squad planning department at Werder Bremen. He described that role as a full-time job, while also making it clear that he wanted to take on responsibility beyond football.
Wiedwald said he went into politics with full commitment after becoming a CDU member last autumn. Since then, he has been attending CDU parliamentary group meetings to learn the issues. His own explanation was direct: many people complain about politics, he said, but only a few actually get involved and take responsibility. For him, that was reason enough to step forward.
At 36, Wiedwald brings a familiar name to local voters in Verden and the surrounding area. He is best known for his time in goal, including 73 appearances as a professional, but his profile now stretches beyond sport. The decision to run also fits a pattern seen more often in local politics, where well-known figures from football move into civic roles with a strong connection to their home region.
There is also some recent local context around his public profile. In March 2025, Wiedwald appeared at Diego's farewell match in Bremen, a reminder that he has remained visible in football circles even after retiring. Now, though, his attention is on the September CDU campaign and the two elected bodies he hopes to reach in Verden.
For Wiedwald, the campaign is not just a symbolic move. It is a direct attempt to turn local interest and political curiosity into a seat at the table in Verden. On 13. September, voters will decide whether his first major step in politics leads to a place in the Stadtrat, the Kreistag, or both.
