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The era of Joachim Löw as coach of the German national soccer team ends after 17 years.
The German Football Association (DFB) announced this on Tuesday.
Löw, who took over the office from Jürgen Klinsmann in the summer of 2006, will only act as national coach until the European championship in the summer and then step down.
Actually, his contract is still valid until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“I take this step very consciously, full of pride and enormous gratitude, but at the same time continue to be highly motivated as far as the upcoming European Championship tournament is concerned,” said Löw, explaining his decision: “Proud, because it is something very special and one for me It is an honor to be committed to my country.
And because I have been working with the best footballers in the country for almost 17 years and have been able to support them in their development. "
His greatest triumph: Löw 2014 in Rio with the World Cup trophy
Source: Getty Images / Laurence Griffiths
Löw would associate “great triumphs and painful defeats” with these players: “But above all, many wonderful and magical moments - not just winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
I am and will remain grateful to the DFB, which has always prepared an optimal working environment for me and the team. "
“I'll do my best,” says Löw
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Since the debacle at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when the DFB selection as defending champion failed in the preliminary round, Löw has been criticized.
Most recently, after the 0: 6 in Spain in autumn of the previous year, there was again heated debate about an early replacement of the national coach.
Löw was only allowed to continue after clarifying discussions with the DFB top.
He wants to use this trust again in the summer for a successful tournament.
"For the upcoming European Championship, I still feel the absolute will as well as great energy and ambition," said Löw: "I will do my best to give our fans great pleasure and to be successful at this tournament.
I also know that this applies to the entire team. "
Start as assistant coach: Löw 2006 at the home World Cup at the side of Jürgen Klinsmann
Source: AFP via Getty Images / MICHAEL URBAN
DFB President Fritz Keller
thanked the 2014 world champion coach: “I have great respect for Joachim Löw's decision.
The DFB knows what he has in Jogi, he is one of the greatest coaches in world football. "Keller continues:" Jogi Löw has shaped German football like no other over the years and has helped it to achieve the highest international reputation.
Not only because of his sporting achievements, but also because of his empathy and humanity.
That he informed us of his decision at an early stage is extremely decent.
He gives us as the DFB the necessary time to name his successor calmly and with a sense of proportion. "
His first assignment as boss: In August 2006, Löw won with the national team in Gelsenkirchen 3-0 against Sweden
Source: Bongarts / Getty Images / Friedemann Vogel
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Even
Oliver Bierhoff
, director of national teams, thanking his longtime companion.
“We were able to experience so much together and also get through together.
It's a special relationship that is characterized above all by absolute trust, "said Bierhoff:" Under Jogi, the national team once again stood for joy in playing and attractive offensive football, this team and its players have developed incredibly with him.
I regret that after the EURO we will part ways professionally.
We will stay connected personally. "
A completely surprising announcement
Borussia Dortmund's managing director
Hans-Joachim Watzke
immediately called for unity in German football.
“Joachim Löw's decision deserves a lot of respect because it is a decision of one's own strength.
Löw did great things for German football during his time as national coach, "said Watzke: Everyone in German football is now called upon to do their part to enable Joachim Löw to achieve the grand degree he deserves in the summer."
The low point: In 2018, Löw was responsible for the first preliminary round from a German team in World Cup history
Source: Getty Images / Matthew Ashton - AMA
The DFB announcement came as a complete surprise on Tuesday.
So far, it was assumed that Löw would continue until the World Cup if his team did not embarrass themselves again as they did last in Russia.
How it came to the change of heart at Löw and the DFB is still unclear.
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"That is sad news, but he is still in office," said RB Leipzig coach
Julian Nagelsmann
, who will play against Jürgen Klopps FC Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Löw had a great influence on German football and "shaped an era with titles and a development," said Nagelsmann.
"Hopefully it will be a glorious end."
Klopp, Flick, Rangnick?
A possible successor is Klopp (53), who is deep in the sporting crisis with the Reds in the Premier League.
The former BVB coach had recently always referred to his contract in Liverpool, which ran until 2024.
The name of the former Leipzig trainer Ralf Rangnick (62) was also mentioned in the discussion after the Spain game.
Likewise that of the recently so successful Bayern coach Hans-Dieter Flick, who worked as Löw's assistant between 2006 and 2014.
An internal, but currently rather unlikely solution would be the promotion of Löw's current assistant coach Marcus Sorg (55).
U21 national trainer Stefan Kuntz (58), who is initially still in action with the DFB juniors at the European Championships, is already employed by the DFB.
There are still months of work to be done for Löw.
The 61-year-old, who has played 189 international matches so far, will be in charge of the DFB selection in March for the three World Cup qualifiers against Iceland (March 25), Romania (March 28) and North Macedonia (March 31).
Two tests are planned for the immediate EM pre-run.
At the tournament at the end of 15 years as national coach, between three and seven games under Löw are possible.
So he can still break the 200-game mark.
Löw's life, Löw's successes
Birthday:
February 3rd, 1960 in Schönau (Black Forest)
Marital status
:
Separated from wife Daniela, no children
National coach:
since July 2006 (189 internationals, 120 wins)
Successes as coach of the national team:
World Champion 2014, Confederation Cup Winner 2017, European Championship runner-up in 2008, World Championship runner-up in 2006 (assistant coach), World Cup third place in 2010, European Championship semi-finals in 2012 and 2016
Success as a club coach:
DFB Cup winner 1997, finalist in the 1998 European Cup Winners' Cup (both VfB Stuttgart), Austrian champions 2002 (FC Tirol Innsbruck)
Career as a professional soccer player (clubs including SC Freiburg, VfB Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt):
4 U21 internationals, 52 Bundesliga games / 7 goals, 252 second division games / 81 goals
As a player: Löw in 1981 in the Eintracht Frankfurt jersey
Source: Bongarts / Getty Images