LÖRCKS NAMED NEW FIRE GM

Rhein Fire has appointed experienced sports manager and football expert Christoph Lörcks as its new general manager.

The 53-year-old has been responsible for the sporting and structural relaunch of the two-time champion for several weeks, co-ordinating scouting and personnel discussions with coaches and players for the 2026 season. Where that season will play out remains to be seen, however, as the Fire remain amongst the small group of teams yet to reunite with the European League of Football.

“For me, Rhein Fire is the leading American football franchise in Europe,” Lörcks admitted. “The opportunity to actively shape this development is a great motivation for me.”

As a trained sports scientist, Lörcks ensures in the administrative area that players and coaching staff have optimal conditions for their daily work. Until the end of 2024, he worked in various roles for the Cologne Centurions and, as general manager, contributed to the team — despite it being the underdog — repeatedly surprising the field and achieving a balanced season record as well as remarkable victories against established top teams.

Since 2005, Lörcks has been active as an entrepreneur in the sports industry. During this time, he has held consulting and management positions in several sports and has built up a broad network in professional sports. His focus has always been on professional structures, sustainable squad planning and clear, performance-oriented team leadership.

Lörcks also celebrated successes as an active athlete. As a two-time 24-hour MTB world and European champion, he knows the demands of performance, focus and workload management from his own experience. This sporting background still influences his leadership style today.

“In competitive sports, you don’t win through talent alone, but through structure, discipline, and a clear vision,” he explained.