Quick Facts: The Details
- Player: Kay Seidemann (25)
- Club: FC Carl Zeiss Jena (Contract terminated)
- Background: Transferred in summer 2024 by former sporting director Stefan Böger
- Reason for separation: Disciplinary issues and a strained relationship with the fan scene
- Future: Rumors of a move to BSG Chemie Leipzig
JENA (09.02.2026) – It is the final point of a chapter that will likely be recorded in the history books of FC Carl Zeiss Jena under the category of “misunderstanding.” The traditional club from the Kernberge and midfielder Kay Seidemann have ended their cooperation. What began with sporting promise ultimately failed due to the baggage of the past and a lack of discipline.
The Heavy Burden of the Erfurt Past
When Kay Seidemann moved to the Saale in the summer of 2024, skepticism was high. The reason was obvious: Seidemann had not only previously worn the jersey of arch-rivals Rot-Weiß Erfurt but had also made derogatory comments about FCC during that time. In football, where loyalty and identification are highly valued, such history weighs heavily.
The active fan scene in the Südkurve made no secret of its rejection. While the team was celebrated after victories, Seidemann often had to stand aside – a bizarre situation for a team sport. Although other parts of the stadium tried to compensate with expressions of solidarity, the general atmosphere remained permanently strained. A player who is not accepted by his own Ultras traditionally has a hard time gaining a foothold in Jena.
Sporting Performance vs. Discipline
Paradoxically, the sporting record was initially positive. In his debut season (2024/25), the 25-year-old delivered: ten goals and five assists in 24 appearances are strong numbers for a midfielder in the Paradies. However, as is well known, talent alone is not enough in professional football.
Since last summer, off-field problems have mounted. Reports of missed training sessions circulated. The situation escalated to the point where sporting director Miroslav Jovic had to intervene personally to bring the player to training – a process that serves as an alarm signal in professional sports.
The Predictable End
The final break had been looming since the beginning of the year. Seidemann missed the important training camp in Turkey due to a lack of fitness and was supposed to complete an individual recovery program in Jena instead. However, this measure also apparently failed to bear fruit. A renewed sick note before the friendly against Plauen (3:2) was the final straw.
The club leadership, including coach Volkan Uluc and sporting director Jovic, has now pulled the plug. The mutual contract termination is the logical consequence of a year and a half of unrest. For FCC, this means that more peace can return to the squad to focus on sporting goals in the Regionalliga Nordost.
What’s Next?
For Kay Seidemann, the next chapter already seems to be opening. According to current information, he is close to reaching an agreement with league rivals BSG Chemie Leipzig. Whether he will find his old strength there, without the emotional weight of the “Erfurt-Jena rivalry,” will be revealed in the second half of the season. In Jena, his path will likely be closely watched – but now from a distance.