 In the summer of 2004, the defender switched to then-champions Werder Bremen, where he immediately won the DFB-Ligapokal against Bayern Munich.The club never managed any further honours during his two seasons there but he did achieve eight appearances in the UEFA Champions League.On 9 August 2006, he transferred to Hannover 96, as part of the deal which saw Per Mertesacker move in the opposite direction.