Tuesday March 30th 2021
First talks probably in April
Meeting with Rangnick about Löw’s successor
Meeting with Rangnick about Löw’s successor
Joachim Löw advises those responsible for the DFB to also seek the opinions of the national team when looking for his successor. Oliver Bierhoff is in charge of finding the national coach – and, according to a report, he will meet with a candidate in April.
For Oliver Bierhoff, after the three international matches in March, the search for a successor to national coach Joachim Löw is pending alongside the final EM plans. As the “Bild” newspaper reported without citing the source, the DFB director will meet Ralf Rangnick for initial talks in April. The 62-year-old is considered to be a possible candidate for the top position vacated after the European Championships in the summer due to Löw’s resignation.
There was initially no reaction to the report from the German Football Association (DFB) or Rangnick. After Löw’s announcement of his resignation at the beginning of the month, the association had emphasized that it would not give an opinion on possible successor candidates. At the DFB, the executive committee decides on Löw’s successor. Bierhoff, as director of national teams, is primarily responsible for the search.
Bierhoff and DFB President Fritz Keller had emphasized that they “felt no time pressure” and wanted to look for the new national coach in peace. It is possible that it will only be named after the European Championship finals. The first international matches with Löw’s successor are scheduled for the beginning of September. In addition to Rangnick, Bayern coach Hansi Flick is a possible solution. However, the DFB has assured not to seek talks with coaches who are still under contract. The currently unbound Rangnick had recently given Schalke 04 a rejection of the post as sports director.
“Listen to the team”
Löw had advised those responsible for the DFB to also get the opinion of the current national players. “It would make sense,” said the national coach, who left in the summer. “Manuel Neuer, İlkay Gündoğan, Toni Kroos, other players too have experience and can already judge what kind of coach they need.”
Löw, who was retiring as national coach after the European Championship finals (June 11th to July 11th) after 15 years as national coach, also said in Düsseldorf that of course the coaching decision “will not be made by the team”. Nevertheless, it is “good to hear a few opinions as an association”. He also said that to DFB President Keller.
“It’s always good to listen to the team, because our players have a lot of experience and think about coaches a lot,” said Löw. The players have already seen a lot of different coaches in the clubs. “It is important: Do the players want defensive football somehow? Do they want offensive football? What is the team good at? What is their character?” Loew listed possible important criteria.
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