Germany FA (DFB) have announced the sacking of head coach Hansi Flick ahead of the Euro 2024 following their humiliating 4-1 defeat to Japan.
Hans-Dieter Flick assumed the distinction of being the sole German national team head coach to be dismissed from his position, a role that has been in existence since its establishment in 1926.
Rudi Voeller, the sporting director who led the team to the 2002 World Cup final against Brazil, will assume temporary control of the team.
According to Bernd Neuendorf, the German Football Association (FA) chairman, the dismissal of the team’s coach became an inevitable course of action due to the team’s recent string of unsatisfactory outcomes.
In a statement, Neuendorf said “with a view towards the European championships in our own country, we need a spirit of optimism and confidence”, saying the decision was one of his “most difficult so far.”
According to reports, it is improbable that Voeller will assume the leadership of Germany for Euro 2024.
Julian Nagelsmann, a manager who was previously appointed as the successor to Flick at Bayern Munich, and is currently unemployed, has been suggested as a potential candidate to assume the managerial position prior to the commencement of the tournament.
Oliver Glasner, the former manager of Eintracht Frankfurt, who has been unemployed since May, has also been identified as a potential candidate for the managerial position.
The German national team faced a significant defeat against the Blue Samurai in a friendly match held in Wolfsburg. Despite the commendable efforts of Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal, the German team was unable to prevent the scoreline from surpassing their previous 5-1 loss to England in Munich in 2001.
Germany has experienced a decline in performance, losing four out of their six matches subsequent to their premature elimination from the World Cup in December.
The Euro 2024 tournament is scheduled to commence in Germany during the month of June in the year 2024.
During the halftime break, the home spectators expressed their disapproval towards the German team by means of booing, and a portion of the crowd concluded the match by chanting “Hansi out.”
Germany has exhibited a historical tendency to display reluctance towards implementing significant alterations to the coaching position, as evidenced by the absence of any dismissals of Flick’s predecessors.
Appointed in May 2021 after Joachim Loew’s 15-year tenure ended, Flick was Germany’s 10th head coach since World War II.
Fresh off taking Bayern Munich to seven trophies in just 18 months in charge, Flick was victorious in his first eight matches as Germany boss.
Since then he has won just four of 17 matches and presided over a group stage exit at the Qatar World Cup.
Flick was bullish after Saturday’s latest loss, telling reporters he “was convinced of what we are doing” and “wanted to continue” in the top job.
Voeller said after the match emotions were running too high to make an immediate call on Flick’s future.
“I suggest we collect ourselves and sleep on it” Voeller said, explaining “we are all a little in shock… a defeat like that hurts.”
Assuming the role of interim manager in the year 2000, Voeller led the German national team to the championship match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, ultimately succumbing to a 2-0 defeat against Brazil.
The inaugural match of his tenure as interim coach is scheduled for Tuesday, featuring a friendly encounter in Dortmund against France, the second-place finishers in the recent World Cup.
Photo by EPA/FILIP SINGER
