Germany’s trainer is staying, the top of its league isn’t. The German football federation maintained its consider in Hansi Flick as nationwide crew trainer on Wednesday regardless of the disappointing World Cup efficiency.
Separately, German football league leader government Donata Hopfen will go away her place on the finish of the month after attaining a mutual settlement to chop quick her three-year contract as a result of what the league stated was once “differing ideas about the further strategic direction of the company”. .”
Hopfen’s departure — unrelated to the World Cup — after lower than a 12 months in rate were anticipated amid simmering problems with discontent amongst Bundesliga golf equipment and groups from the second one department.
Flick’s long run was once extra unsure following Germany’s early World Cup go out, its 3rd immediately disappointing efficiency at a big event, and the previous Bayern Munich trainer was once below drive going into Wednesday’s assembly with federation president Bernd Neuendorf and vp Hans-Joachim Watzke.
Neuendorf stated afterwards the frame has “full confidence” in Flick to guide the crew throughout the 2024 European Championship, which Germany is scheduled to host and which Neuendorf described as a “great opportunity” for the way forward for football within the nation.
Flick left the assembly with no phrase, however was once quoted in a observation from the federation.
“We as a team can achieve much more than we showed in Qatar,” Flick stated within the observation. “We neglected a large alternative there. We’ll be told our classes from it.”
Flick said he was optimistic about Euro 2024 and that he has confidence in the path Neuendorf and Watzke agreed to.
“We need all of Germany to rally in the back of the nationwide crew once more on the 2024 European Championship at house,” said Flick, who faced criticism for his team selection and tactics against group rivals Japan, Spain and Costa Rica in Qatar.
Mistakes in defence, where Flick was unable to settle on his preferred back four, and an inability to put away chances cost Germany a place in the knockout round.
Germany’s record under Flick was also poor before the tournament. Flick took over from Joachim Löw last year after Germany’s second-round exit from the European Championship and has a contract through Euro 2024.
The federation still needs a replacement for Oliver Bierhoff, who ended an 18-year stint Monday when he agreed to resign as managing director of Germany’s national soccer teams and academy. Bierhoff might not have a direct replacement.
“We have agreed to speak about the longer term construction of this space of accountability first throughout the federation to be able to decide then on body of workers,” Neuendorf said.
Bierhoff is the only casualty so far from Germany’s group-stage exit from the World Cup in Qatar, the team’s second straight embarrassing failure in soccer’s biggest tournament. Germany was also eliminated from the same stage at the 2018 World Cup as defending champion.
Hertha Berlin general manager Fredi Bobic was a reported candidate to take over from Bierhoff, though he said Wednesday he was “very relaxed at Hertha.” Bobic, who has a contract through 2024 with the Berlin club, did not rule himself out, however.
Flick appeared to criticize the federation for Bierhoff’s exit on Tuesday, when he said both he and his coaching staff “are having a troublesome time imagining how the distance left through Oliver’s departure can also be closed.”
Hopfen took over from Christian Seifert in January as the first female chief executive of Germany’s top two soccer divisions but struggled to impose her vision or resolve long-standing questions on issues such as the league’s 50 1 rule limiting the role of outside investors, marketing at home and abroad, and the sale of media rights.
Hopfen said in a social media post on Linkedin that she did not receive the support she needed from the league.
“I came into this job, like many before me, from the outside, as a non-player, as a woman with a clear plan on how the league can be led into the future: digitally, internationally and with strong partners and associates, Hopfen said. “Such a transition is a feat of strength and requires courage. For all that you need staying power and the support and joint action of all stakeholders. I didn’t feel that anymore in the end.”