Dufner, the son of a lawyer, did not get beyond a youth career as a football player due to a knee injury.
[1] After unsuccessfully applying for a job at FC Barcelona, he worked in management for three years at VfB Stuttgart starting from 1997.
[2][3][4] From April 2000 to June 2004, he was Sporting director under President Karl-Heinz Wildmoser at TSV 1860 Munich.
[8] On 23 April 2013, one day after the termination of the contract in Freiburg, he was presented as the new sporting director at league rivals Hannover 96.
[9] In early August 2015, shortly after the formation of the squad and the start of the season, he asked Hannover 96 to terminate his contract; the association complied with his wish.