Flick’s farewell to Bierhoff
“Set professional and human standards”
12/06/2022 2:07 p.m
Oliver Bierhoff is no longer responsible for the interests of the German national soccer team. As a consequence, the DFB managing director is leaving the World Cup disaster. National coach Hansi Flick regrets this and praises his long-time companion in an open letter. The then assistant coach Flick and Bierhoff became world champions together in 2014, and since 2021 they have both been working together again in the DFB team.
“Oliver Bierhoff has been working at the top level of German football since 2004 and has set standards both professionally and personally: from the professionalization of the national team and its environment to the numerous successes with the 2014 World Cup title at the top to the DFB Academy as a central project for the future of German football and the DFB campus as a new football home.He pushed all of this forward with great personal commitment and against a lot of resistance.
At the moment, my coaching team and I are having a hard time imagining how the gap created by Oliver’s departure can be closed, both professionally and personally. Our cooperation has always been characterized by loyalty, team spirit, trust and reliability. Cohesion was in the DNA of our team.
For me personally, Oliver was my first contact and friend within the team. Our common goal was the EM 2024 project in Germany. For Oliver, the focus was always and exclusively on the well-being of the national team, the DFB and German football. I would like to thank him personally and as the national coach for this long collaboration and the invaluable trust that has been placed in us. This trust is and remains the greatest asset in football.
The last few days have not been easy and I wish Oliver and his family the very best from the bottom of my heart. German football and the national team in particular owe him an incredible amount.”