Oliver Bierhoff’s decision to resign as the Germany team director has caused Hansi Flick to express his disappointment.
After the national team’s World Cup group-stage elimination, former Germany striker Bierhoff announced his resignation as Germany team director on Monday, claiming he had reached “an understanding on the matter with president Bernd Neuendorf”
Neuendorf, the head of the German Football Association (DFB), may now have to fight to win over Flick, who is expected to hold onto his position until the Euro 2024 tournament.
The fact that Germany would host that competition was mentioned by Flick as a “common goal” of his collaboration with Bierhoff. Bierhoff, who many people will blame for Germany’s World Cup failure, would be challenging to replace, according to Flick, both personally and professionally.
In Flick’s estimation, during his 18 years with the DFB, Bierhoff accomplished a lot. The 2014 World Cup victory, which he oversaw, was singled out as the pinnacle of his accomplishments, but he also mentioned the “professionalisation of the national team and its environment” and growth of the DFB academy and campus.
“He pushed all of this forward with great personal commitment and against a great deal of resistance,” Flick said.
“At the moment, my coaching team and I are having a hard time imagining how the gap created by Oliver’s departure can be closed, both professionally and personally.
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“Our cooperation has always been characterised by loyalty, team spirit, trust and reliability. Cohesion was in the DNA of our team.
“Oliver was my first contact and friend within the team. Our common goal was the Euro 2024 project in Germany. For Oliver, the focus was always and exclusively on the well-being of the national team, the DFB and German football.”
The coach’s own future has been the subject of conjecture due to the tone of Flick’s response, which was made public by the DFB on Tuesday. According to reports, Thomas Tuchel, Ralf Rangnick, or Fredi Bobic may succeed him.
Of Bierhoff, Flick said: “I would like to thank him personally and as the national coach for this long collaboration and the invaluable trust that has been placed in us. Trust is and remains the greatest asset in football.
“The last few days have not been easy, and I wish Oliver and his family the very best from the bottom of my heart. German football and the national team in particular owe him an incredible amount.”
