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| Joachim Low announces on Tuesday of his decision to step down as the German national team manager after almost 17years in around. (Photo credit: Sky Sports) |
Joachim Low, the German national team manager will step down from his post this summer after the European Championship, an official statement reads early Tuesday morning, bringing to an end a rich reign that could still end on a high.
The 61-year-old, who was contracted through to 2022, will leave
the German FA after 17 years with the national team and 15 years as the head
coach. He has coached them for 189 games, having won 120 and lost 31.The news
means Germany will require a new manager to take them through to the 2022 World
Cup in Qatar.
Low first joined the team in 2004
as an assistant to Jurgen Klinsmann before taking over in 2006 and led them to the
Euro 2008 final before winning the World Cup six years later.
"Joachim Low will vacate his position as the Bundestrainer
after the 2021 European Championship," a statement on the DFB website
read. "The Bundestrainer asked to cancel his contract, valid until 2022,
immediately after the tournament. The DFB has agreed to it."
Low added: "I take this step very consciously, full of pride
and enormous gratitude, but at the same time continue to be very motivated when
it comes to the upcoming European Championship tournament.
"Proud, because it is something very special and an honor for
me to be involved in my country. And because I have been able to work with the
best footballers in the country for almost 17 years and support them in their
development.
"I have great triumphs with them and painful defeats, but
above all many wonderful and magical moments -- not just winning the 2014 World
Cup in Brazil. I am and will remain grateful to the DFB, which has always
provided me and the team with an ideal working environment."
An exciting semifinal run with big wins over England and Argentina
at the 2010 World Cup were the first clear signs of Low's style that would
conquer the world four years later.
Their 7-1 demolition of hosts Brazil in the semifinal of the 2014
tournament stunned the football world and was arguably the best performance by
Low's team with its quick passing style that dismantled the Brazilian defense
in a sensational first half.
Doubts over Low's future grew
following a 6-0 defeat to Spain in the UEFA Nations League in November. They
had begun following Germany's failure to recover from the 2018 World Cup exit
at the group stages, a first for Low and his staff.
"I was able to work with the best players of the country for
nearly 17 years and be part of their development," Low said and
highlighted the "many wonderful and magic moments" he had with the
team.
DFB president Fritz Keller said that Low's announcement now made
it possible "to announce his successor with the requisite time, with
calmness and with sound judgement."
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp and Bayern Munich's Hansi Flick have
been touted as potential successors in recent months, while Germany great
Lothar Matthaus was suggested as an ideal fit for the position by former
teammate Mehmet Scholl. Germany under-21 coach Stefan Kuntz has also been
linked with the job in the past.
Asked about Klopp's chance of
replacing Low, RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann told a news conference on
Tuesday: "Klopp is, of course, an exceptional coach but I think Liverpool
and Jurgen Klopp are content with their partnership, so I don't know if that's
a good question for me. You should ask that to Jurgen."
Euro 2020 was postponed until 2021 because of the coronavirus
pandemic, but the tournament’s original name was retained.
UEFA confirmed last month the tournament would go ahead
although doubts remain about which countries will host it.
Germany face France, Hungary and Poland in their Euro group
matches in June.
