The German Football Association (DFB) has relieved the national team’s coach, Hansi Flick, of his duties following a resounding 1-4 loss to Japan on Saturday in Wolfsburg.
Flick’s dismissal makes him the first and only head coach to be sacked in Germany since the inception of this position in 1926.
Rudi Völler, the sporting director of the German Football Association and a former coach who led Germany to the World Cup final in 2002, will oversee the national team temporarily while a new coach is appointed, as reported by “France-Presse.”
DFB President Bernhard Neuendorf stated in a press release that the decision to terminate Flick’s contract was unavoidable, especially in light of the recent poor results.
He acknowledged that it was the most challenging decision he had made to date.
Neuendorf emphasized the team’s need for a fresh spirit, renewed positivity, and confidence as they prepare to host the upcoming UEFA European Championship.
Flick’s dismissal comes just months before Germany is set to host the Euro 2024 finals from June 14 to July 14.
The German national team is scheduled to play a friendly match against France on Tuesday.
Several names have surfaced in local media as potential successors to Flick.
Among them, Julian Nagelsmann, the former Bayern Munich coach, who was relieved of his duties in March. Austrian Oliver Glasner, who guided Eintracht Frankfurt to victory in the UEFA Europa League last season, is also a prominent candidate.
Additionally, Stefan Kuntz, who won the European Under-21 Championship twice with the youth team in 2017 and 2021, is under consideration.
The German national team has posted lackluster results in its last seven friendly matches since the beginning of the current year.
