New national coach: The DFB draws the joker Hrubesch – Sport

Last week, after they had just won 4-0 against Iceland, the German national players wanted to send clear signals in front of the microphones. What had previously been expressed primarily internally now had to be expressed publicly. The pressure on those responsible increased. “We need clarity as quickly as possible,” said captain Alexandra Popp. Whether “Martina, Britta or I-don’t-know-who”, she would like to find out what happens next in the position of national coach. Lena Lattwein revealed that the uncertainty was putting a strain on the team, goalkeeper Merle Frohms set the deadline for the next games at the end of October.

The German Football Association (DFB) has now created this clarity, at least for a certain period of time. On Saturday at 3 p.m. the association sent out the message with the title: “Hrubesch will be the national coach on an interim basis.”

Since it became known at the beginning of September that Martina Voss-Tecklenburg had called in sick, there has been uncertainty in this central position. Suddenly the DFB found itself not only without a men’s sports director and national coach, but also without a women’s sports director. And while two vacancies were filled with Andreas Rettig and Julian Nagelsmann, question marks remained around Voss-Tecklenburg. How she is really doing and what exactly she has is unknown. The 55-year-old herself has not yet commented. In return, her husband explained that she was mentally and physically exhausted. According to their own statements, the players don’t know anything specific either.

When, if and in what role Voss-Tecklenburg will return remains unclear

With Horst Hrubesch, a good old acquaintance is now returning. The DFB draws a joker who had already become an ace a few years ago: After Steffi Jones’ short and unsuccessful term in office, Hrubesch looked after the DFB women for eight months in 2018 until Voss-Tecklenburg was officially introduced on November 30th became. As back then, Thomas Nörenberg will be his assistant coach; both of them recently worked for Hamburger SV, Hrubesch as youth director. He will continue to hold this position outside of the DFB courses and international matches, the club said. “For me it’s a matter of the heart. I didn’t have to think long about the request,” says Hrubesch quoted in the HSV announcement. We heard from those around the team that the players themselves wanted to work with Hrubesch again.

Assistant coach Britta Carlson, who moved into the front row after the World Cup in Australia, will stay. The 45-year-old quickly ruled herself out as a successor. Assistant coach Michael Urbansky is moving to the female U-area.

When, if and in what role Voss-Tecklenburg will return remains unclear. “With a view to Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s hopefully continuing recovery and taking the sporting development into account, Hrubesch and Nörenberg will take over until further notice,” writes the DFB. However, it is hard to imagine that she will continue to work as a national coach. After the historic early exit from the World Cup in the preliminary round, she ruled out resigning, although the DFB expressed its trust in her surprisingly quickly – despite upcoming analysis. But apart from the sporting failure, dissonances became known and the players’ lack of commitment as to whether they wanted to continue working with Voss-Tecklenburg was now too clear to interpret. In the search for a permanent solution, the name of the recently dismissed Turkish national and former U21 coach Stefan Kuntz is among those circulating.

In the weeks of her absence, there was speculation as to whether Voss-Tecklenburg was a candidate for the position of director of the women’s national team. In the DFB organizational chart, that would be a promotion to the second row under managing director Rettig. She would then be on the same level as those responsible for the young talent, Hannes Wolf, and for the senior national team, Rudi Völler. Her contract runs until 2025. Whether this promotion will happen remains to be seen. The DFB, on the other hand, had to answer the coaching question as quickly as possible in order to get the growing nervousness under control. Even Carlson had wanted clarity, “because I just want us, Germany, to grow back to the way it was before.”

In 2018, with Hrubesch as national coach, the players seemed liberated and the constellation harmonized

The sporting goal is clear: After the 0:2 against Denmark and the 4:0 against Iceland, the next games in the Nations League are on October 27th against Wales in Sinsheim and on October 31st in Iceland. The national team still has the chance to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games. But the group runner-up behind Denmark can no longer make a mistake. Only the group winner will advance to the final round, and only two European tickets will be awarded in this newly created competition. The European Championships are coming up in Switzerland in 2025.

With Hrubesch, someone who has already proven that he is capable of doing so is now taking over the management position. Previously, as a coach with the U21 team of Manuel Neuer, Jérôme Boateng, Mats Hummels, Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil, he became European champion in 2009 and won Olympic silver in 2016. When he led the DFB women on an interim basis in 2018, they managed with him the qualification for the 2019 World Cup, which had previously been in danger. With the European champion, European Cup winner and three-time German champion as coach, the unsettled team regained its self-confidence five years ago. It’s about nothing else now.

At that time, Hrubesch gave the footballers a lot of courage and worked on details and basics such as shifting the game; both in combination brought back trust and success. But that was also due to the type of hamburger. “He has the right instinct, that’s what defines him,” said Svenja Huth in the SZ interview: “Horst Hrubesch has the natural authority that a coach needs.” Lina Magull described the time as formative; from someone like Hrubesch you learn “for your game, but also for your life. We all value him very much.” With him as national coach, the players seemed liberated, the constellation harmonized – and he also raved about the footballers.

When it was over in November after eight unbeaten games, there was currywurst with fries to celebrate and chocolate cake, Hrubesch’s favorite pastry, for dessert. November 13th should not only mark the farewell as interim women’s national coach, but also from the big football stage. After a successful career as a player, coach and DFB employee employed in various positions, Hrubesch wanted to slowly retire and travel with his wife. It is known that this plan was not fully implemented. The fact that his path would lead him back to the women’s national team may have surprised him too.