Benedikt Höwedes returns to the German national team seven years after winning the world title.
The 33-year-old former professional will strengthen the team management of the DFB selection under the new national coach Hansi Flick, as the German Football Association (DFB) announced on Wednesday.
"Benedikt Höwedes, as the link between management and the team, will provide important impulses, and our young players can use him as a guide," said national team director Oliver Bierhoff.
Höwedes will initially go through management tasks related to the national team in a kind of trainee program in addition to his UEFA master’s course for national players until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, according to the association.
Initially, “Sport Bild” reported on the new addition to Flick's team.
Höwedes is very pleased “to be back with the national team in a new role and to be involved in all processes relating to the DFB team.
I want to learn how a selection team is managed - and at the same time pass on my experience to the team and the team behind the team, ”said the long-time Schalke captain.
Höwedes had played 44 international matches for Germany, the highlight of his career was the 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil. Flick was a co-trainer at the time. Höwedes ended his professional career in July 2020 after working for Lokomotiv Moscow.