German football hit with biggest crisis ever – DFB academy boss

BERLIN – German football is going through one of its biggest crisis and has lost touch with the world elite, according to Tobias Haupt, head of the German Football Federation (DFB) academy.

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Haupt told Saturday’s Bild paper that the last big reform dates back more than two decades and that important decisions are constantly pushed back.

The men’s national team, winner of four World Cups, went out in the group stage of the last two editions, and Julian Nagelsmann was appointed coach on Saturday in succession of Hansi Flick in the wake of further poor results. The women’s team, two-time champions, also failed to get out of their World Cup group last month.

“We are in one of the biggest crisis in the history of German football,” said Haupt, who has been on the job since 2018.

“This has been partially identified. But central measures that have been on the table for years are not implemented. And above all: essential decisions that are necessary for the future of German football have been put on the back burner for years.

“This is no way for German football to be successful in the future.”

Haupt said the last big reform dates back to after a Euro 2000 group stage exit and everyone has just rested on success after the 2014 World Cup title.

“The current speed of implementation is far too slow to be able to catch up in international competition,” Haupt said.

He spoke of a wider than ever gap between the DFB, the German Football League and the professional clubs, and said that Germany fares worst from the top five nations in Europe when it comes to using the talent pool, with Spain for instance generating 45% more top players than Germany since 2009.

“We have to little depth at the top. Playing time of our U21 internationals is much to low. The market value of our U21 internationals is below the international average,” Haupt said.

“The future of German professional football in the area of excellence is being cut back further. The connection to France, England and also other nations is completely lost as a result.”