Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Ebbsfleet appoint German manager
Ebbsfleet United have brought in a highly-rated young manager from Germany as their new boss.
Dennis Kutrieb, 40, is the man they have chosen to replace departed Kevin Watson after what they say has been an “exhaustive and thorough process”.
Former TB Berlin boss Kutrieb says he is “very hungry to work hard and succeed in England” with Ebbsfleet.
He has previously played for KUTTB Berlin, BFC Dynamo, RW Oberhausen and Ludwigsfelder while as a manager he has taken TB Berlin to the top of the Nofv-oberliga Nord table – the fifth tier in German football – when the early season shutdown occurred.
Kutrieb said: “For me this is a logical step in my career.
“The opportunity to create the same results and progression in the competitive English system as I have enjoyed in Germany is something I am very ambitious to do.
“While I had options to remain in the German leagues and take on a role at a higher level, I’m very hungry to work hard and succeed in England with Ebbsfleet.
“I’m excited by the preparation and meticulous approach I’ve experienced already in my discussions with Ebbsfleet and we share the same philosophy and belief in terms of the high work ethic and standards that a club requires to consistently progress and win football matches.”
Kutrieb led TB Berlin to a second place finish in the 2018/19 season as well as the Berlin Cup Final before dominating last season’s league campaign, with just two defeats from their 19 league games.
Prior to his spell with TB Berlin, he guided VSG Altglienicke from the Berlin League to the fourth-tier Regionalliga Nordost. Fleet say there was significant interest from clubs across Germany for the manager, when he announced he wasn’t staying at TB Berlin and are delighted to have brought him in.
A club statement said: “Dennis is one of Germany’s most highly regarded young managers and we are extremely pleased to secure his services to take the club forward.
“A feature of Dennis’ success has been his tactical flexibility and dynamic tactical management during matches, along with his meticulous and thorough approach to preparation.
“An exhaustive and thorough process has been undertaken to identify and profile the attributes that best suit our club going forward to provide the optimal structure for stable and consistent football operations and results.”
He will be supported in his role by existing director of football Steve Lovell.
The statement added: “Steve’s vast league and local football experience will be integral in providing Dennis with recruitment and retention support at Ebbsfleet United and his role and position at the club remains unchanged.” Fleet still don’t know what division they will be playing in next season.
But they said: “Regardless of this uncertainty, the club is committed to a thorough and measured approach in planning for the new season and are applying a tireless and focused approach and standards to mirror those of our loyal supporters.”