Ex-Stuttgart and Leverkusen coach Wolf given key Germany job

 

BERLIN – Ex-VfB Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen coach Hannes Wolf has been named German Football Federation (DFB) director for youth, training and development.
Monday’s announcement was long expected and splits the role previously done by Oliver Bierhoff.

He was in charge of all pathways to the German men’s senior team and as well organizational issues with the senior squad itself.

Bierhoff was sacked in December after Germany’s men crashed out of the Qatar World Cup in the group stage for the second straight edition.

His job was split with veteran ex-Germany player and coach Rudi Völler taking on the national team job above coach Hansi Flick, with 42-year-old Wolf now taking on the other responsibilities.

“He is an important building block for the new structure that we want to implement,” DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said at a news conference on Monday.

“He has a lot of experience not only here at the federation, which is very important, but also in the professional game and professional leagues.”

Wolf, who will be assisted by former Germany players Sandro Wagner and Hanno Balitsch, said: “We will provide impetus for good youth training in Germany. We want to work hand-in-hand with all the bodies involved to improve training across the football pitches in this country.”

Wolf, who will stay on as the Germany men’s under-20 coach, did not have great success as a Bundesliga coach and also managed SV Hamburg and Genk.

Völler, 63, is only in his role temporarily and is expected to hand over to someone else following Euro 2024 being hosted in Germany.

The 2014 World Cup winner Sami Khedira was heavily linked with the job but media reports say talks broke down.

As part of a three-pronged structure under overall DFB sporting director Joti Chatzialexiou, Wolf and Völler now occupy two of the roles – with a women’s football supremo also being sought.