DFB under pressure
So that Völler’s ultra-short comeback remains unique: This is how the national coach search works
Do it exactly again: Rudi Völler
© Federico Gambarini / DPA
After Hansi Flick’s exit and the game against runner-up world champion France, the team goes on tour to the USA in October. Until then, Rüdi Völler wants to present a national coach with the DFB and “name the right one”. There are initial approaches to solutions.
Sandro Wagner’s dashing commands echoed audibly through the still empty Dortmund arena. Hannes Wolf also interacted very actively with the players during Rudi Völler monitored the training of the national soccer team like a kind of supervisor down on the lawn. The roles in the interim coaching team were clearly distributed and clearly visible to the few observers during the only practice session in the huge Signal Iduna Park before the big international test against France on Tuesday evening.
Rudi Völler’s “unique” ultra-short comeback
The national players around captain Ilkay Gündogan were confronted with new, brash coaching tones and fresh training impulses in the short phase between the sudden separation from Hansi Flick following the 4-1 defeat against Japan and the next test against runner-up world champion France . According to Völler, they hardly have to get used to this situation. Before his comeback game as DFB team boss, the 63-year-old spoke, at least for himself, of “a unique thing” and, in his role as DFB sports director, formulated clear ideas about how things should continue from Wednesday.
According to Hansi Flick
Klopp, Nagelsmann or Glasner: Who could be the new coach of the DFB team?
“Hannes Wolf in a package with Sandro Wagner was my idea,” said Völler. But even if he is completely convinced of the abilities of the new DFB youth director and former Bundesliga coach, 42-year-old Wolf, as well as the self-confident ex-national player and 35-year-old coaching newcomer Wagner: At least he did not propagate this package solution with him as the front man the EM project he prefers.
“I can help out,” said Völler, who admittedly isn’t helping out for the first time at the DFB. “I still don’t like it now,” he assured us credibly: “In such an important tournament like the home European Championships, it is very important that we find the right solution, a coach who puts his heart and soul into it.” Someone like Julian Nagelsmann, for example.
Task force is involved
Völler plays the main role in filling the national coaching position alongside DFB President Bernd Neuendorf (“We need a spirit of optimism”) and DFL Supervisory Board Chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke. The task force with football personalities such as Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Matthias Sammer should also be included in the coaching search again.
Völler wisely did not outline an exact profile and possible exclusion criteria (no contract, German-speaking). Völler shrewdly dismissed questions about candidates like ex-Bayern coach Nagelsmann, who was reflexively seen as the favorite, as “trick questions”. “That’s what I learned in this business, not to comment on names,” he said with a smile.
They are only now creating a shortlist or longlist of candidates at the DFB. “Of course there are names that are absolutely possible,” said sports director Völler. And “of course” “Nagelsmann, like many others, is also an absolute top trainer.” The 36-year-old could become a project coach for the home European Championships, like Jürgen Klinsmann once was for the 2006 home World Cup. Nagelsmann would be a great solution for the cash-strapped DFB. FC Bayern Munich, which still pays its coach, who was fired in March, a generous monthly salary, would hardly torpedo a DFB solution. After the mistaken belief that Flick would be able to shake off the “World Cup baggage” (Völler), the association now has to go all-in for its home tournament.
Klopp remains the eternal dream coach
Nagelsmann is a contender. Jürgen Klopp remains the eternal dream national coach. Sammer, who suffered serious health problems years ago, somehow doesn’t like it. Louis van Gaal feels honored by his alleged candidate status. Ralf Rangnick wants to continue his work as national coach in Austria. Stefan Kuntz is still tied up in Turkey. And ex-master coach Felix Magath would of course be confident of taking on the difficult task.
Völler at least gave a timeline to complete the “main task” of finding a coach. “It’s important to present the right person in three and a half weeks. We’re working on it.” On October 9th, the national team will fly to North America for two international matches against the USA and Mexico. Völler knows that the choice of coach has to be right. “We still have nine months to create euphoria. That is absolutely possible with a new national coach. A new man can make a difference. We can still play a good European Championship.” Someone at the DFB has to help out in dire need now.