National team
Extension: Völler contract as a signal for Nagelsmann
The German Football Association and Rudi Völler have extended their cooperation ahead of schedule. photo
© Federico Gambarini/dpa
Julian Nagelsmann has signed. And Rudi Völler twice. After the entry in the Golden Book of the city of Düsseldorf, the national coach question is gaining even more momentum. Does Völler show the way?
When Julian Nagelsmann handed over the elegant black and gold fountain pen, Philipp Lahm couldn’t resist a cheeky comment. And also at Shortly after his contract extension as DFB sports director until the 2026 World Cup, Rudi Völler had a smile on the corners of his mouth. After the entry in the Golden Book of the city of Düsseldorf, national coach Nagelsmann could have signed a new contract with the DFB – that was probably not the only thing that EM director Lahm thought under the large statue of the former Elector Jan Wellem.
The celebratory ceremony in the town hall of the North Rhine-Westphalia state capital 67 days before the home tournament kicks off on Monday became the scene of the next act in the exciting prelude to the European Championship: Will Nagelsmann remain national coach? Neither Völler nor DFB boss Bernd Neuendorf wanted and could answer this question. But the DFB leadership duo at least viewed Völler’s stay with the association until the 2026 World Cup as an important sign.
“We would be happy if we could manage that, but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. It’s of course a difficult decision for Julian Nagelsmann in the next few weeks, but we are of course in discussions, of course,” said Völler after he said as the national coach and also Neuendorf had immortalized in the Düsseldorf Book of Honor.
DFB boss sees a signal
Neuendorf did not mention Nagelsmann’s name in his statement, but his words were clear. Ideally, with the big upswing after the national soccer team’s March victories in France (2:0) and against the Netherlands (2:1), everything should stay as it is right now. “I think it’s a signal to the landscape and from the DFB as a whole that we would like to continue to work together in this constellation as we currently have it, would like to work together, also towards the tournament after next, the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada,” Neuendorf said.
And Nagelsmann himself? Before his workshop appointment at UEFA in the afternoon, he chatted with the other 23 European Championship coaches with invited guests from the Düsseldorf sports and corporate world – over eggplant rolls and mushroom patties as well as Heinrich Heine tartlets for dessert.
Meanwhile, Völler had to – or was allowed – to talk in the narrow town hall hallway about his own question about the future, which had been clarified shortly before the society meeting. “We definitely have a building block with Rudi, that’s very important. The collaboration is right,” said Neuendorf. This decision had become apparent in the past few weeks and Völler had repeatedly expressed his willingness to turn the emergency solution after the World Cup disaster in Qatar into a permanent solution.
Fuller on Everybody’s Darling
The Völler image factor should not be underestimated for the DFB. Neuendorf was able to see this for himself directly in front of the Düsseldorf town hall. After a warm greeting with Nagelsmann, Völler was warmly surrounded by passers-by. A policewoman quickly rushed over for a selfie. During the fan group photo with Nagelsmann and Neuendorf, the tourists really wanted to stand next to Völler. “There is only one Rudi Völler, which is why there was no alternative to extending the game,” said DFB managing director Andreas Rettig, using the fan hit song from the 2002 World Cup as an explanation.
“In the past 14 months of my work, I have noticed that the responsible task at the DFB has grown more and more close to my heart every day,” said Völler. “I’m also a child of the DFB,” he added. “What initially perhaps started out of a feeling of obligation towards Germany, the association and the national team has long since developed into a personal concern,” assured Völler.
Völler should now continue this concern until the American World Cup in a good two years, regardless of the performance at the home European Championships in a few weeks. “Rudi Völler, with all his experience, is an important contact and advisor for me and also for the coaches and players,” said Neuendorf. “He has a positive influence on the national team,” emphasized the association boss.
Völler avoids prediction
The DFB is now also relying on Völler’s positive influence when it comes to Nagelsmann’s personnel. But the sports director doesn’t seem certain that he won’t have to look for a new national coach soon. He admitted that he tried to “snag a bit” in his answers to the topic – that is, to wriggle his way out of it.
“Of course it’s difficult for a young, successful person and top trainer when you have so many inquiries. He won’t make the decision easy for himself, but we hope it will work,” said Völler. The 2026 World Cup remains a lure and, at least for Völler, things have come full circle overseas. In 1994 he played his last international matches at the World Cup tournament in the USA.