Even after the appointment of Rudi Völler as the new managing director of the national soccer team, both working groups set up by the DFB will continue to work.

"Over the next few weeks, this task force will have one or two more ideas with which we are trying to stress the DFB's committees," said DFL supervisory board chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke at Völler's presentation on Friday in Frankfurt.

DFB President Bernd Neuendorf announced that the five business areas and especially the work in the DFB Academy would be put to the test.

After the World Cup preliminary round in Qatar at the beginning of December and the subsequent resignation of managing director Oliver Bierhoff, Neuendorf founded two working groups.

A task force made up of prominent officials led by Watzke and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge positioned Völler as managing director for the A selection up to the 2024 home European Championship.

This group now wants to continue working despite the clarification of the most important personal details.

Another group around EM chief planner Philipp Lahm has a closer look at the DFB structures.

Völler's "little déjà vu"

Völler described his DFB comeback as a "little déjà vu".

As with his appointment as team boss in 2000, everyone around him looked at him and ultimately convinced him.

"I still believe that we have a very good team," Völler said on Friday and declared that he did not want to be a shadow national coach and that he did not want to talk Hansi Flick into personnel issues.

“Of course we will exchange ideas.

One thing is clear, Hansi Flick is the national coach, he will make the decisions," said Völler.

"Hansi Flick nominated," the 62-year-old made clear about the player selection.

From 2000 to 2004, Völler was Flick's predecessor as DFB team boss in the most important German coaching position.

In his new job as Oliver Bierhoff's successor, Völler announced that he would also attend Bundesliga games and keep in touch with club officials.

Flick made the good exchange with the clubs one of his most important tasks immediately after taking office in August 2021.

"give closer to the people"

The DFB team will “play a good EM the summer after next.

We'll get it done." And further: "I'll take a lot of joy and enthusiasm," promised the 62-year-old.

His relationship with national coach Hansi Flick is excellent.

In a few days he will meet with Flick to exchange views.

In addition, the DFB selection will be closer to the fans in the future: "The basis of everything is the national players, the national coach, that we sell ourselves well in sport, but also give ourselves closer to the people in the run-up," said Völler.

"We'll see what that will look like."

Völler will take up the post on February 1st, followed by the first international matches at the end of March.

"I don't want to make any promises," said Völler, citing the kick-off times for international matches and public training sessions as possible leverage.

The DFB selection had recently been repeatedly criticized for alienating itself from the German fans.

"We have to see that we win back the spectators, the fans," said Völler.

But it is hypocritical to say that the national team is now going back to sports schools in preparation for international matches.

This could be done, "but it is important that we have sporting success".