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Nia Künzer
Photograph:
Sebastian Gollnow / dpa
Former World Cup winner Nia Künzer has been appointed to the new post of sporting director for the German women's soccer team at the DFB. The 43-year-old from Wetzlar will take up her post on 1 January. This was announced by the German Football Association following a unanimous decision by the Supervisory Board and the Shareholders' Meeting. As has been demanded for some time, the women's national team will have its own manager, like Rudi Völler for the German men's national team.
"Her critical eye, her ability to bring in other perspectives, her high level of social competence and her profound knowledge of football will help us move forward in this area, which is a high priority for the DFB," said association president Bernd Neuendorf in the press release.
"We have big challenges ahead of us. It is fundamental for development in all areas that we get back on the road to success and also win titles again," said Künzer in the press release. Their responsibilities include the women's national team, which suffered a debacle with their preliminary round exit at this summer's World Cup in Australia, and the U20 team.
Hrubesch succession a key issue
In addition, the 34-time international of 1. FFC Frankfurt will probably help clarify the succession to interim national coach Horst Hrubesch, who will be in charge of the national team until the summer of next year at the latest - if the DFB women manage to qualify for the Olympics for Paris 2024. The 72-year-old had stepped in after a hanging game over Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, who had been ill for a long time, whose contract has since been terminated by the association.
As a player, Künzer celebrated her greatest success in 2003. In the World Cup final in Carson (USA), she scored the golden goal against Sweden with a header to make it 2-1. Most recently, she worked as an ARD expert and as head of the department for integration, social care and volunteering at the Giessen Regional Council.
cev/dpa