Following a historic promotion campaign that saw Ralf Kettemann guide the club to Bundesliga football for only the third time in their history, SC Paderborn enters 2026/27 with a squad rebuilt on a club-record transfer outlay. The departure of key promotion figures, including top scorer Filip Bilbija on a free transfer to Derby County and Mika Baur to Celtic for a record sale of up to €8 million, forced sporting director Sebastian Lange into the market with unprecedented resources. Four matches into the campaign, Paderborn sits 11th in the Bundesliga with 4 points, having secured a memorable 3-1 victory over Hoffenheim alongside a goalless draw at Mainz and defeats to Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund.
Technical Leadership & Coaching Profile
Manager: Ralf Kettemann
Kettemann achieved something his predecessors Steffen Baumgart and Lukas Kwasniok could not in five seasons: promotion to the Bundesliga. In his first season as a professional head coach, the 40-year-old led Paderborn to a third-place finish in the 2. Bundesliga, missing automatic promotion to Elversberg only on goal difference before triumphing in the play-off against Wolfsburg.
Before his time in East Westphalia, Kettemann spent four years as U19 head coach at Karlsruher SC’s academy, leading his team to the DFB-Pokal der Junioren final in 2024/25. His playing career was cut short in 2011 due to injuries after representing Stuttgarter Kickers and VfR Aalen in the Regionalliga and third division.
Kettemann is regarded as an approachable, empathetic figure with clear ideas about his football philosophy. He places great importance on an active style of play, with all players constantly available for a pass and eager to have the ball. His team’s football is characterized by intensity and a high level of running, both in and out of possession.
Tactical Philosophy
Kettemann’s Paderborn operates with a distinct tactical identity built on aggressive pressing, quick transitions, and positional discipline. The preferred system has shifted between a 3-4-3 in the DFB-Pokal and a 3-1-4-2 in the opening Bundesliga fixtures, reflecting the coach’s willingness to adapt his shape to opposition and game state.
In possession, Paderborn seeks to progress the ball quickly through the thirds, with the wing-backs providing width and the attacking midfielders finding pockets between the lines. The team’s defensive structure is built on collective intensity rather than individual brilliance, with the front three leading the press and the midfield line compressing space centrally.
The early-season evidence reveals both the promise and the challenge of Kettemann’s approach. The 3-1 victory over Hoffenheim showcased the team’s ability to execute the game plan at Bundesliga level, with Stefano Marino’s first top-flight goal and disciplined defensive work securing a historic result. However, the 3-0 defeat at Dortmund exposed the gulf in quality between Paderborn and the league’s elite.
Preferred Formations
3-4-3 / 3-1-4-2
Strategic Transfer Activity
Paderborn’s summer window represented a dramatic departure from their historical transfer approach. In the previous five years, the club had spent a combined €5 million on transfers; in the summer of 2026 alone, they invested nearly €9 million in new signings, funded primarily by Mika Baur’s record sale to Celtic.
The headline arrival was Gabriel Vidović from Dinamo Zagreb for approximately €3 million, a club-record fee that was later equalled by Marvin Pieringer’s return from Heidenheim. Vidović, a Bayern Munich academy graduate who won the Croatian championship with Dinamo last season, brings Bundesliga experience and attacking versatility to the squad. Sporting director Sebastian Lange described him as “flexible, technically excellent, with his strengths in dribbling and finishing”.
Pieringer’s return carries particular significance. The 26-year-old spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Paderborn from Schalke, contributing 24 goal involvements in 26 matches. His subsequent three years at Heidenheim yielded 89 Bundesliga appearances with 14 goals and nine assists, plus European experience. His physical presence, finishing ability, and familiarity with the club made him an ideal addition.
Further reinforcements arrived in the form of Oliver Batista Meier from Preußen Münster, another former Bayern academy talent, and Rayan Philippe on loan from Hamburger SV. Philippe’s pace, technical ability, and Bundesliga experience from his time with HSV were cited by Lange as key attributes for the survival campaign.
Table A: Summer Major Transfer Influx
| Player | Position | Arrival Type | Former Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Vidović | Attacking Midfielder/Winger | Permanent | Dinamo Zagreb |
| Marvin Pieringer | Striker | Permanent | 1. FC Heidenheim |
| Oliver Batista Meier | Winger/Forward | Permanent | Preußen Münster |
| Rayan Philippe | Attacker | Loan | Hamburger SV |
| Albert Millgramm | Winger | Permanent | 1. FC Magdeburg |
The First-Team Roster
Goalkeepers
Markus Schubert (#1): The 28-year-old goalkeeper provides experienced cover between the posts, his Bundesliga pedigree from previous spells offering reliability behind a defense adapting to the top flight.
Nahuel Noll (#15): The young German goalkeeper represents the future at the position, his development continuing under the guidance of the senior goalkeeping staff.
Florian Pruhs (#31): Academy graduate providing third-choice depth, a product of the club’s youth pipeline.
Defenders
Laurin Curda (#17): The club captain and defensive leader, Curda has started every match in the opening phase of the season. His ability to read the game and distribute from the back makes him essential to Kettemann’s build-up play. His assist for Marino’s goal against Hoffenheim demonstrated his quality in possession, with the striker praising him for “keeping his head up”.
Marcel Hoffmeier (#33): The right-sided defender offers versatility across the back line, his energy and work rate fitting the demanding wing-back roles in Kettemann’s system.
Felix Götze (#20): The 28-year-old center-back brings Bundesliga experience from his time at Augsburg and provides composure in the defensive third.
Nyamekye Awortwie-Grant (#4): The physical center-back offers aerial dominance and strength in duels, valuable attributes for a newly promoted side facing established Bundesliga attacks.
Tjark Scheller (#25): The young central defender provides competition and depth, his development a long-term investment for the club.
Jonah Sticker (#3): The left-sided defender offers balance to the defensive unit.
Jano ter Horst (#21): Provides additional cover on the right side of defense.
Clemens Lippmann (#29): Young defensive prospect continuing his development within the first-team environment.
Midfielders
Raphael Obermair (#23): The 30-year-old midfielder is one of the squad’s most experienced figures, his versatility across defensive and wide midfield roles making him a valuable tactical option for Kettemann.
Sebastian Klaas (#26): The central midfielder provides energy and tactical intelligence in the engine room, his work rate embodying the team’s collective ethos.
Laurin Ulrich (#28): The young midfielder has impressed with his technical quality and maturity beyond his years, establishing himself as a key figure in the rotation.
Mattes Hansen (#22): Offers additional depth in central midfield, his physicality and stamina suited to Kettemann’s demanding style.
Timur Gayret (#44): The experienced midfielder provides composure and game management from deeper positions.
Niklas Mohr (#24): Young midfielder developing within the first-team squad.
Forwards
Stefano Marino (#): The 22-year-old striker has been one of the season’s early revelations, starting three of the opening four matches and scoring his first Bundesliga goal in the historic victory over Hoffenheim. Signed from Hannover 96’s reserve team in 2025, Marino’s trajectory reflects Paderborn’s ability to identify and develop talent. His goal against Hoffenheim, a near-post run converted from Curda’s cross, demonstrated the “training-ground” movement that Kettemann demands. Marino’s ambition is clear: “The standard should be that sooner or later I’m not just keeping up, but can be the decisive factor in winning games together”.
Gabriel Vidović (#): The club-record signing brings Bundesliga experience from his Bayern Munich days and attacking quality honed in Croatian football. His seven goals and six assists for Dinamo Zagreb last season demonstrated his end product, and he has already opened his account in the DFB-Pokal. Capable of operating on the left wing or through the middle, Vidović adds a dimension of technical creativity to Paderborn’s attack.
Marvin Pieringer (#): The returning striker brings 89 Bundesliga appearances and proven goalscoring pedigree to the squad. His previous loan spell at Paderborn yielded 24 goal involvements in 26 matches, and his three years at Heidenheim established him as a reliable top-flight forward. Sporting director Lange highlighted his “finishing strength, flexibility, physical presence, and experience” as key attributes for the survival mission.
Rayan Philippe (#): The loanee from Hamburger SV adds “tremendous pace, technical ability, dribbling, and finishing” according to Lange. His five goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances for HSV provide evidence of his capacity to contribute at this level. Philippe’s direct running offers Kettemann a different profile in the attacking line.
Oliver Batista-Meier (#): The former Bayern academy product arrives from Preußen Münster, where he scored six goals last season. His assist for Vidović’s DFB-Pokal goal demonstrated his creative capabilities. Described as a player with “one-on-one talent,” Batista-Meier provides width and unpredictability in the attacking third.
Sven Michel (#): The 36-year-old veteran offers experience and a physical presence in the attacking line, his knowledge of German football invaluable in the survival campaign.
Steffen Tigges (#): The 28-year-old striker provides additional depth and competition for places, his height and hold-up play offering a different option.
Leadership Group & Squad Regulations
Club Captain: Laurin Curda
The defender has led the team in every match this season, his composure and leadership qualities recognized by Kettemann’s decision to entrust him with the armband. Curda’s distribution from the back and defensive organization are central to Paderborn’s structure, and his assist for Marino’s historic goal exemplified his all-round contribution.
The Leadership Committee
Raphael Obermair and Sven Michel provide veteran leadership, their combined experience across German football offering guidance to a squad navigating its first Bundesliga campaign together. Sebastian Klaas and Felix Götze also carry leadership responsibilities within the group.
Homegrown Quota Check
Paderborn’s commitment to internal development remains evident, with academy graduates like Florian Pruhs and Clemens Lippmann forming part of the first-team squad. The club’s model of identifying and developing undervalued talent—exemplified by Marino’s rise from Hannover’s reserves—continues to shape its recruitment strategy.
Financial & Contractual Health
Financial Balance Overview
Paderborn’s summer spending represented a calculated gamble on survival. The club invested nearly €9 million in new signings, funded by Mika Baur’s record sale to Celtic (up to €8 million) and a transfer surplus exceeding €10 million from previous departures including Aaron Zehnter, Ilyas Ansah, and Luis Engelns. Sporting director Sebastian Lange emphasized the club’s intention to “use the very good financial solution to further strengthen our squad before the end of the transfer window,” and he delivered on that promise with the signings of Vidović, Pieringer, and others.
Contract Red Alerts
Marvin Pieringer’s contract runs until 2030, providing long-term security for the club’s attacking future. The loan arrangement for Rayan Philippe includes no reported purchase option, meaning his future beyond this season remains uncertain. Securing the long-term futures of emerging talents like Marino and Ulrich will be a priority as the season progresses.
The Academy Pipeline & Loan Tracker
Breakout Talents to Watch
Stefano Marino has been the standout young talent of the early season, earning three starts in four matches and scoring his first Bundesliga goal against Hoffenheim. His journey from Hannover 96’s reserves to Bundesliga starter embodies Paderborn’s talent identification model.
Laurin Ulrich has established himself as a midfield regular at just 21, his technical quality and tactical discipline belying his age.
Notable Out on Loan
The club’s loan strategy has focused on developing young talent through competitive minutes at lower levels, with the “Loan Army” approach reflecting Paderborn’s commitment to long-term player development.
Set-Piece Specialists & FPL Cheat Sheet
Penalties: Marvin Pieringer (First Choice) / Sven Michel (Second Choice).
Direct Free-Kicks: Raphael Obermair / Gabriel Vidović.
Corners & Crosses: Laurin Curda / Raphael Obermair.
Final Outlook: Navigating the Tactical Horizon
Paderborn enters 2026/27 chasing history. Never in their previous two Bundesliga campaigns have they survived beyond a single season. The 3-1 victory over Hoffenheim—their first top-flight home win in this iteration—offered tantalizing evidence that this squad might possess the quality and character to break the pattern.
The early-season data reveals a team in transition. Four points from four matches, including a commendable goalless draw at Mainz and a competitive performance at Dortmund despite the scoreline, suggest Kettemann’s methods are translating to the higher level. The defensive organization has been largely solid, with only four goals conceded in three league matches prior to the Hoffenheim victory. The attacking output, however, remains a work in progress—Marino’s goal was the club’s first in the Bundesliga this season, and converting chances will be the difference between survival and relegation.
The squad’s depth is a genuine strength. Kettemann possesses options across every position, from the experience of Schubert and Michel to the youthful promise of Marino and Ulrich. The arrival of Pieringer and Vidović added proven quality to the attacking third, while Philippe’s loan provides pace and directness from the bench. The competition for places—particularly in the attacking positions—should drive performance levels throughout the campaign.
The challenges, however, are formidable. The club’s historical inability to survive in the Bundesliga weighs heavily, and the margin for error against established top-flight sides is minimal. The 3-0 defeat at Dortmund served as a reminder of the quality gap that exists at the top of the league. Paderborn’s survival will likely depend on their performance against direct rivals—the Freiburgs, Mainzes, and Hoffenheims of the division—rather than against the European contenders.
The season’s trajectory will be shaped by Kettemann’s ability to maintain his team’s intensity across a grueling campaign. The high-pressing, high-running style that delivered promotion can be physically taxing, and squad rotation will be essential. The emergence of Marino as a genuine Bundesliga contributor offers hope, as does the leadership of Curda and the experience of the summer arrivals. If Paderborn can remain competitive into the winter break and reinforce in January, the dream of a first-ever Bundesliga survival is within reach. The margin is thin, but for the first time in the club’s top-flight history, the resources and the squad depth are there to make it a genuine possibility.
