The so far Bayern Munich coach, Hansi Flick, will coach Germany for three years after the European Championship (June 11-July 11), in which the current coach, Joachim Low, will be dismissed from his position, the German Football Federation announced on Tuesday (DFB).
«Hansi Flick will be the new coach of the national team. The 56-year-old coach today signed a contract at the headquarters of the German Football Federation (DFB) until 2024, which will conclude with the Eurocup at home, “said the DFB in a statement, referring to the continental tournament that it will organize in three years.
‘BACK TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD’
The appointment of Flick had been sung for weeks, after the coach announced that he would not continue at Bayern.
Low had announced in March that he was leaving the ‘Mannschaft’ after the European Championship, after 15 years as coach and the world title in Brazil 2014. Then Flick was part of his technical team.
«I am very impatient because I see the kind of players, especially the youngsters. We have reason to approach the upcoming tournaments, especially the Euro Cup at home in 2024, with optimism, ”said Bade-Württemberg-born Flick, as Low.
“I know and appreciate the human and professional qualities of Hansi Flick from the many successful years we spent together within the national team. It was important for me to have clear ideas before the start of the Euro. We have a common goal: To return to the top of the world, ”explained former player Oliver Bierhoff, director of the DFB.
Flick came to the Bayern bench in 2019 and won seven titles, including two Bundesligas and a Champions League (2020).
Faced with sports director Hasan Salihamidzic over his transfer policy, he had asked to break his contract, which lasted until 2023, at the end of this season.
Bayern have already announced that their replacement will be Julian Nagelsmann, 33, current Leipzig manager.
ATTACHED BETWEEN 2006 AND 2014
After the announcement of Low’s departure, the DFB had recognized “conversations” with Flick, in the technical team of the national team between 2006 and 2014.
According to various media, the coach had also been contacted by several clubs, including Barcelona, who could replace Ronald Koeman.
On the Bayern Flick bench, he quickly gained prestige, both outside and inside. His ability to listen and empathy were valued in the dressing room. Now in the selection he will have several of the figures of his club, among them the goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer.
In addition, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Niklas Süle and veteran Thomas Muller, re-fisted for the Eurocup after being fired from the national team by Low due to a renewal process after the 2018 World Cup debacle (elimination in the group stage).
The Qatar 2022 World Cup will be the first major test for the coach, whose career took off in November 2019, when he was promoted to interim coach at Bayern after the dismissal of Niko Kovac.
Then his team was fourth in the Bundesliga. A few months later he sealed the historic ‘sextete’ of titles (League-Cup-Champions-German Super Cups and Europe-Club World Cup).
Calm but perfectionist, ‘Super Flick’ seems the best option to recover a convalescent German team since Russia-2018. AFP. (JL).