At the DFB, consequences were drawn after leaving the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The contract of Oliver Bierhoff, the managing director of the national teams, was terminated prematurely.
Oliver Bierhoff is leaving the German Football Association (DFB) after 18 years as a consequence of the World Cup debacle. The DFB announced the termination of the contract on Monday evening (December 5, 2022). Bierhoff was most recently “Managing Director National Teams and Academy” at the association. The DFB committees are to discuss the succession plan. Bierhoff’s contract ran until 2024.
Bierhoff: “Make way with it”
“After 18 years in responsible positions at the German Football Association (DFB), I have resigned from my position as managing director of the national teams and academy with immediate effect. I agreed on this today with President Bernd Neuendorf. I am thus paving the way for new decisions.”it said in a statement from Bierhoff.
“Take responsibility for wrong decisions”
“My work has always been driven by the conviction that I should do my best for the DFB and the national teams. The performance of the men’s national team at the World Cup in Russia and Qatar hurts me all the more.”he further explained: “That’s why I’m not leaving without the necessary self-criticism. In the past four years we haven’t managed to build on previous successes and give the fans reason to celebrate again. Some decisions that we were convinced of didn’t turn out to be the proved correct. No one regrets that more than I do. I take responsibility for that.”
Neuendorf thanks Bierhoff
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf thanked the outgoing managing director. “Oliver Bierhoff has rendered great service to the DFB. Even if the last tournaments fell short of the sporting goals, he stands for great moments. His work will always be associated with the World Cup success in Brazil,” it said in a statement .
Watzke: “Respect, recognition and thanks”
DFB Vice President and DFL Supervisory Board Chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke also paid tribute to Bierhoff’s many years of service. “Oliver Bierhoff has rendered considerable services to German football in the 18 years he has been active,” said the managing director of Borussia Dortmund. He deserves “respect, recognition and thanks,” said Watzke.
2014 world champion, then almost only disappointments
The 54-year-old Bierhoff has held a responsible position for the national team since 2004. Many successes fell during this period, the greatest of which was when he won the 2014 World Cup. However, the following three tournaments ended in disappointment. As in Russia in 2018, Germany was eliminated four years later after the preliminary round. At the EM 2020, the selection of the DFB only made it to the round of 16.
Increasing alienation between fans and the national team
Even more important for the release than the sporting reasons may have been that Bierhoff is responsible for the increasing alienation between fans and the national team. This is symbolized by the claim “The team” introduced in 2015, which was collected by DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, who was elected in March.
Sports show information: Bierhoff should remain responsible for the academy
Hans-Joachim Watzke, who was also the 1st Vice President of the DFB as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the German Football League (DFL), had spoken out in favor of abolishing the claim. According to information from the sports show, Watzke was present at the meeting that led to Bierhoff’s end, a good 18 months before the start of the European Championships in Germany.
Initially, the conversation was only about taking Bierhoff from the national team. The former national player should retain responsibility for the academy that opened in Frankfurt am Main just a few months ago. But he refused this.