Friedrich, who made the majority of his 300 club appearances for Hertha, was out of contract in the summer and has decided not to extend his stay in Berlin.
The 42-year-old joined the staff of Hertha in late 2019 as Performance Manager under then new manager Jurgen Klinsmann. Six months later he was promoted to Sporting Director, since which time he has had to overcome the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, changes in senior management and the threat of relegation. He even had a short stint as interim manager.
Friedrich is expected to return to USA, where he ended his playing career and has a house.
The 82-cap German international said: “The last two and a half years have been an intense time, characterised by changes. I returned to the club in 2019 to care for the club and do my bit to stabilise Hertha BSC and steer them back to calmer waters. There have been many highs and lows, but the good moments stand out for me. I’d also like to thank the great people who give their all for the club every single day here.
“It’s clear that the process hasn’t finished yet, but I’m sure that Hertha BSC has been set up well for the future with its new sporting leadership. I’m looking forward to my future challenges and having time for other projects which I had to put on hold in recent years.”
Fredi Bobic, Head of Sport, Hertha BSC, added: “Arne has tackled and continues to deal with the difficult situation at Hertha BSC with lots of passion, energy and drive, in order to bring the club forward – always with clear ideas and a clear attitude. He has made the decision not to renew the contract which expires in summer and go his own way. That is a shame, but we accept his decision. It is no secret that the USA is an important place for him and we are working together to see how he will be able to help us from there in the future.”
Friedrich was a guest speaker at the TransferRoom Virtual Summit in November 2021, where he shared his insights on leadership and player welfare. That interview can be watched here.
