Berlin –
Former German striker and coach Rudi Völler is the new sporting director of the men’s national team, the German Football Association announced on Thursday.
Federation president Bernd Neuendorf and vice president Hans-Joachim Watzke will present Völler as Oliver Bierhoff’s replacement on Friday.
He will officially take over on February 1st.
Bierhoff was the first – and so far only – managerial victim of Germany’s early World Cup exit in Qatar after agreeing last month to step down after 18 years in managerial positions at the federation. When he was done, Bierhoff oversaw all of the country’s national football teams and its academy.
Germany coach Hansi Flick remains in office and is expected to win back fans in time for the 2024 European Championships, which will be held in Germany.
“Rudi is a fixture in German football,” said Flick. “He has delighted the fans as a player, as a coach and as a manager. Due to his experience in the national team and his many years of service at Bayer Leverkusen, he is the right man for the tasks ahead.”
Völler, whose goals helped West Germany win the World Cup in 1990, played 90 times for the national team between 1982 and 1994. He was coach from 2000 to 2004 and helped guide Germany to the 2002 World Cup final.
“First of all, we have to lay the foundation for a successful European Championship at home with the support of all of Germany,” said Völler. “We have the players for it. We now want to form a close-knit unit from these many top players, a strong-willed and likeable national team with the clear goal of winning back the unreserved support of the fans. ”
Völler, who also has management experience as a Leverkusen sports director, was the recommended choice for the task force set up by Neuendorf and Watzke, consisting of Völler himself, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Oliver Kahn, Matthias Sammer and Oliver Mintzlaff. Her proposal was approved by the Association Committee.
“In Rudi Völler we have found the ideal person for the next 20 months,” said Neuendorf. “Völler is one of the greats in German football. I look forward to working together and look positively to Euro 2024.”
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