Werder Bremen will send a strong delegation of legends to the Bremer Nordosten on July 29 to take part in a charity match between Blumenthaler SV and SV Grohn. The game at 18:30 local time is more than just a friendly - all proceeds go to the family of Dennis and Sabrina Tanski, who were victims of a violent crime on June 26. Their two-year-old daughter is now without her parents.

Who’s lining up on the pitch?

The Werder contingent includes household names from the club’s glory days. Ailton, the former Bundesliga top scorer with 14 goals in a single season, and Holger Wehlage have both confirmed their presence. Managing director Clemens Fritz will also be on the sidelines. The legends Thomas Wolter, Günter Hermann, Marco Bode and Uwe Harttgen will pull on boots once more. Refereeing duties will be handled by Sven Jablonski, one of Germany’s leading officials, who will take charge for one half. "We’re expecting at least 1,000 fans," said Peter Nowack, vice-president of Blumenthaler SV. The atmosphere promises to be electric - and that’s a good thing.

Werder Bremen currently sit 15th in the Bundesliga (final 2025 table: 32 points, 8 wins, 8 draws, 18 losses from 34 games, recent form LLLDW). Their last five matches have all ended in defeat, most recently on May 16 2026 in a 0-2 loss at home to Borussia Dortmund. The 2025 season saw them score 37 goals while conceding 60 (goal difference -23).

Why this charity match matters

This fixture is about more than nostalgia. It’s about solidarity in the face of tragedy. The Tanski family, based in Elsdorf, was torn apart by a criminal act. Proceeds from the evening will help the surviving relatives cope with financial and emotional strain. The presence of Werder figures - from current MD Fritz to legends like Bode - underlines how tightly knit the local football community is. Even Jablonski’s involvement highlights the weight of the cause.

Werder Bremen in the summer break: what else is happening?

While the legends shine on July 29, the club itself stays busy. OSC Bremerhaven have signed Michel Hahn, a 28-year-old centre-back born in Bremerhaven who spent five years in Werder Bremen’s youth academy. After stints at Grün-Weiß Firrel, SSV Jeddeloh (162 Regionalliga appearances) and more, he now joins OSC. There he’ll reunite with ex-SV Hemelingen teammates Cyril-Jeniour Ebone Ekweh and Umit Kaan Kabakci, who also recently moved. Hahn is seen as a leader and is expected to shore up OSC’s backline.

SV Hemelingen are also in action this week. After lifting the Bremer Pokal (beating Heeslinger SC 3-1 and Rotenburger SV 3-1 along the way), they suffered their first pre-season defeat, 1-2 away to VfV Hildesheim. Head coach Günter Tuncel called it a useful lesson. Teenage striker Ömer Bulut (19), a new signing from Blumenthaler SV, made his debut. Tournaments like the ALTS-Cup and Hans-Hexe-Wendelken-Cup are giving the squad plenty of competitive minutes.

Fair-play push across Bremen

The Bremer Fußball-Verband has launched "Moin Fairness", a summer initiative promoting respect on and off the pitch. Free offerings include the "Moin Fairness-Café" mobile stand and workshops on child rights, boundary-setting, values education, self-confidence, communication and conflict management. Sessions target players, coaches and parents alike, aiming to raise awareness during the busy pre-season period.

Werder Bremen’s summer is packed - from charity games to social drives and the integration of young talent like Hahn. The local football family is showing once again how much it stands together.