- Personnel: Kay Seidemann (25) is leaving FC Carl Zeiss Jena.
- Decision: The contract was dissolved by mutual consent.
- Reasons: Fan protests due to his Erfurt past, lack of fitness, and disciplinary issues.
- Background: Most recently, the offensive player was absent again due to illness and missed the training camp.
Jena. It is the final point of a misunderstanding that lasted over a year and a half: FC Carl Zeiss Jena and offensive player Kay Seidemann are parting ways effective immediately. As the club confirmed, the 25-year-old’s contract was dissolved by mutual consent. With this, the Regionalliga club from the Kernberge is drawing the consequences of a relationship that began with sporting promise but was increasingly overshadowed by background noise.
A transfer with heavy baggage
When the then sports director Stefan Böger brought the midfielder to the Saale in the summer of 2024, the potential for conflict was already tangible. Seidemann brought a past with arch-rivals Rot-Weiß Erfurt – and statements about the FCC that were not forgotten in the Südkurve. The Thuringian football rivalry, which is traditionally deeply rooted, ensured a difficult standing for the new signing.
Parts of the active fan scene categorically rejected Seidemann. While the team celebrated in the Kurve after victories, the 25-year-old often had to keep his distance. Although there were expressions of solidarity from other parts of the stadium, this permanent balancing act noticeably strained the internal atmosphere at the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld.
Sporting decline after a strong start
Despite the adverse circumstances, Seidemann initially delivered. In his debut season, he shone with ten goals and five assists in 24 appearances – values that underlined his sporting potential. However, since last summer, his form curve has pointed steeply downwards. Instead of scoring goals, the player increasingly stood out due to absence and a lack of fitness.
Internally, there are said to have been massive problems. According to reports, sporting director Miroslav Jovic sometimes had to pick up the player personally from home to ensure his participation in training. The situation reached its low point at the beginning of the year when Seidemann missed the important training camp in Türkei. Official reason: lack of fitness. Instead of honing tactics under the sun of Türkei, the coaching team led by Volkan Uluc prescribed him an individual recovery program in Jena.
The final end
The hope that individual training would bring a turnaround was not fulfilled. Most recently, Seidemann reported sick again and was not in the squad for the friendly against Plauen. For those responsible at FC Carl Zeiss Jena, the limit had been reached. The mutual separation now appears to be the logical step for both sides to bring peace to the club and refocus fully on the sporting competition in the Regionalliga Nordost.
For the traditional club, a personnel matter that cost a lot of strength and nerves thus ends. It is not yet known where Kay Seidemann will move next.
Source:
Shock at Carl Zeiss Jena! Now it is finally over
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.