Oliver Bierhoff's contract with the German Football Association (DFB), which originally ran until 2024, was terminated prematurely.

The DFB and Bierhoff announced this in a joint press release this Monday evening.

The relevant DFB committees are now to discuss Bierhoff's successor.

Jan Erhardt

sports editor.

  • Follow I follow

Bierhoff, who came to the DFB in 2004 after the end of his professional career, began his career in the association as manager of the national team, before he was promoted to "Director of National Teams and Academy" in 2018 and finally in 2022 to "Managing Director of National Teams and Academy of DFB GmbH & Co KG “ was promoted.

From 2015 he also took over the project management for the planned DFB academy.

The DFB has now recognized him as an "innovative driver".

During Bierhoff's time at the DFB, the national team reached at least the semi-finals of six world and European championships in a row and crowned themselves with the title of world champion in 2014.

In addition, he won the 2017 Confederations Cup and two U21 European Championship titles.

As a player, Bierhoff himself scored 37 goals in 70 international matches and made Germany European champions in 1996 with his two goals in the final.

DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said: "Oliver Bierhoff has rendered great service to the DFB.

Even if the last tournaments fell short of the sporting goals, he stands for great moments.

His work will always be associated with the World Cup success in Brazil.

Even in turbulent times, he always pursued his goals and visions and left a lasting mark on the DFB.

On behalf of the DFB employees, I would like to thank Oliver Bierhoff for everything he has done for us and for football in Germany.”

The personal statement of Oliver Bierhoff in the wording:

After 18 years in responsible positions at the German Football Association (DFB), I have resigned from my position as Managing Director National Teams & Academy with immediate effect.

I agreed on this today with President Bernd Neuendorf.

I'm paving the way for setting new directions.

It was an intensive, exciting and instructive time in which we were able to celebrate great successes together, had to deal with setbacks and were able to implement extraordinary projects.

My job was teamwork from the first to the last day.

I would like to thank all the people from the bottom of my heart who stood by me during this time with their commitment, their ideas and their passion.

I am proud of what I have achieved together with my staff, our national coaches and the coaching staff.

It was a privilege to have such teams around.

My work has always been driven by the conviction that I should do my best for the DFB and the national teams.

The performance of the men's national team at the World Championships in Russia and Qatar hurts me all the more.

That's why I don't leave without the necessary self-criticism.

In the past four years we haven't been able to build on previous successes and give the fans reason to celebrate again.

Some decisions we believed in did not turn out to be the right ones.

Nobody regrets that more than me.

I take responsibility for that.

I am proud of the progress and work of the DFB Academy.

I am convinced that she will make a significant contribution to the development of German football.

It was a unique experience to be able to accompany this ambitious large-scale project from the idea to realization over decades with great personal commitment.

The fact that our national teams have found a home on the new DFB campus makes me happy.

I wish the DFB, its many committed employees, all the associations and clubs, institutions and initiatives gathered under its roof, as well as our national teams, every success in their important tasks.

I wish that the football fans will continue to support our teams - whether women, men or juniors - with passion in the future.

This is especially true for our men's national team at the home European Championship in 2024, where we can be successful again ten years after winning the World Cup in Brazil.

Football has shaped my life and will continue to accompany me.

It was a great honor for me to have worked for German football for so long.