National team
From Klopp to Nagelsmann to Kuntz: Who will follow Flick?
For many fans, Jürgen Klopp is the best solution – but probably also the least likely. photo
© Andrew Yates/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Hansi Flick is gone. A trio around Rudi Völler takes over at least according to the current planning for one game. And then? The dream solution for succession is the most unlikely.
Who will be the successor to Hansi Flick? Time is running out nine months before the home European Championship. 19 years after his resignation, Rudi Völler woke up again on Monday morning as team boss of the national soccer team.
As in 2000, the 63-year-old stepped in when the DFB was in dire need – this time because things could no longer continue with Flick as national coach after the 4-1 defeat against Japan. And this time it should be over after a game of Völler. Who could take over after the showdown against vice world champion France this Tuesday (9 p.m./ARD) in Dortmund?
Jürgen Klopp
For many fans it is also the best solution – but probably also the least likely. Klopp could be trusted to create the much-needed euphoria for the home European Championship with his positive manner. But he is under contract with top English club Liverpool FC. It can almost be ruled out that the 56-year-old will quit as national coach for the Reds shortly after the start of the season. Especially since he declined after the World Cup debacle. “Jürgen has a contract with Liverpool until 2026 – and he intends to fulfill it,” his advisor Marc Kosicke said last December.
Julian Nagelsmann
The 36-year-old is considered to have the qualities for the highest coaching position in German football. But does he also have the motivation for it? After his less than illustrious departure from FC Bayern Munich, his image as an exceptional coach suffered. Another unsuccessful engagement with the completely insecure DFB team would set Nagelsmann back in his career again. His age could at least be controversial internally. His contract with Bayern is valid until 2026. But the Munich team could be interested in a solution. The record champions once let Flick move to the DFB. Because of the large Bayern faction in the DFB selection, Nagelsmann’s commitment would have a greater impact on the domestic climate than others.
Matthias Sammer
Most recently, the 1996 European champion and former DFB sports director sharply criticized developments in German football. It is very questionable whether he would accept the challenge as national coach in order to at least actively improve the state of the national team. Sammer last worked as a trainer many years ago. He quit as Bayern’s sports director in 2016 due to health problems. He recently ruled out the national coaching job until the home European Championships in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. “I made the decision some time ago that I no longer wanted to be involved in operations. It should stay that way.”
Stefan Kuntz
After the recent 1-1 draw against Armenia, Kuntz has to fear for his job as Turkey’s national coach. That could be helpful for the DFB if they decide to dismiss Flick. Kuntz knows the association as a former successful U21 coach. He is valued internally for his pleasant and constructive communication style. The 1996 European champions would hardly see themselves as just a temporary solution until the home European Championships.
Oliver Glasner
Is the time ripe for the first foreigner to take the national coaching position? The name Oliver Glasner also comes up in the speculation about a possible Flick successor because the Austrian is without a club and knows German football very well from his time at Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg. By winning the Europa League a year ago, Glasner also proved that he can win big titles.
Ralf Rangnick
The former Bundesliga coach and innovator would have liked to become a national coach. The 65-year-old is currently the national coach of the Austrians and is also successfully on course for the European Championships with the neighboring country. And he wants to stay that way. On Monday in Windischgarsten, he told ORF when asked whether he would be available to answer a request from the DFB: “No.” I decided 14 months ago to work as a team boss in Austria. “Everything else is not an issue for me.” It would also have been clear that Rangnick had also looked very critically at the DFB structures.
In view
Record national player Lothar Matthäus (62) has already said that the national coaching job does not fit into his life plans. “I have a private and professional life and feel very comfortable there,” he said on Monday at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. Roger Schmidt (56) recently became Portuguese champion with Benfica Lisbon, but still has a contract in Portugal until 2026. Dutchman Louis van Gaal flirted in the “Bild” newspaper with the sentence: “I normally no longer train at a club , but a promising country still has a chance to convince me!” The 72-year-old has a number of successes (including at FC Bayern) and coached Holland’s national team. But does it stand for the future? Like Glasner, his compatriot Ralph Hasenhüttl (56) would be the first foreigner.
Rudi Völler
What if everything suddenly works better against France? Völler sits on the bench together with sports director colleague Hannes Wolf (42) and ex-national player Sandro Wagner (35). It cannot be ruled out that the decision-makers in the DFB will then say: That’s something! 23 years ago, Völler only wanted to be a temporary solution and then stayed for four years. The national team will travel to the USA in mid-October.