Hansi Flick, through a tenure from November 2019 to June 2021, tasted victory in 70 out of the 86 games he managed for Bayern Munich. However, his stint as the manager of the German football team ended on a disappointing note, as he was dismissed post a devastating 4-1 defeat against Japan in a friendly match in Wolfsburg on Saturday.
The ignominy of this dismissal is accentuated by the fact that Flick is the first German manager to be relieved of his duties ever since the role was instituted in 1926. The tenure of Flick, who took over the helm from Joachim Low in August 2021, has been marred by a series of losses, with Germany conceding four out of the last five games, with just twelve victories in a total of 25 matches.
Coming forth to contain the current state of affairs, Rudi Voller, the erstwhile manager of the team from 2000 to 2004, will take temporary charge during Tuesday’s friendly match with France. Voller, 63, who had a stint as a Germany striker prior to being chosen as the director of the German national team this February, will assist Hannes Wolf and Sandro Wagner.
Germany’s performance has reached a worrisome state, especially with the men’s European Championship scheduled to be hosted in the country the following year. At this critical juncture, Bernd Neuendorf, the President of the German FA, expressed his sentiments. According to Neuendorf, the German national team needs to be energized with fresh inputs in light of the recent disgruntling performance. He further emphasized the importance of faith and positivity ahead of the upcoming European Championship.
Flick, 58, who performed the role of assistant manager with Germany between 2006 and 2014, kickstarted his tenure with eight consecutive victories. However, the team’s form dwindled over time, culminating in the embarrassing exit from the group stage of last year’s World Cup. Marcus Sorg and Danny Rohl, Flick’s assistants, have also been shown the exit door.
The sub-optimal performance was indeed a shock, especially in contrast to the impressive exploits of Flick at Bayern Munich where he secured a treble of the domestic league and cup and the Champions League titles in the 2019-20 season. The German FA is keen on announcing Flick’s full-time replacement at the earliest, with names such as Julian Nagelsmann, Jurgen Klopp along with the temporary manager Voller being reckoned. Oliver Glasner, the former boss of Eintracht Frankfurt, is another potential contender.
