Valérien Ismaël joined Werder Bremen from Racing Strasbourg before the 2003/2004 season. In the Hanseatic city the Frenchman became a key player, making 64 appearances over the course of the next two seasons. After two successful years at Bremen, where in 2004 he won the league and cup double, the defender moved to Bayern Munich. His first season there was a success, playing a total of thirty games for the German record champions. However the 1.91 metre tall centre-back then suffered a series of injuries and never really re-established himself in the team. During the 2006/2007 season and the first half of the 2007/2008 season the Starsbourg-born Frenchman only managed one Bundesliga appearance and eight reserve team appearances. At the start of the 07/08 winter break Valérien Ismaël moved to Hannover 96, hoping to rediscover his old form.