THE STUDENT DID NOT EXCEED THE TEACHER
International football has seen another major coaching resignation: this time, former German national team coach Hans-Dieter Flick has fallen from grace. The specialist has known the selection system for a long time and he himself was one of the builders of the well-known “German machine.” Flick has been in the German national team since 2006: he became assistant to the then “green” Joachim Löw, who was called to become Julian Klinsmann’s successor. From that moment on, the two leaders walked hand in hand and at times Flick was even assigned to the position of sporting director of the Bundestim (2014-2017).
A lot of time has passed since then, and after the triumphant World Cup in Brazil, the German team still does not smell success in international competitions: the only significant achievements are the bronze at Euro 2016 and the final of the 2017 Confederations Cup, won against the Chileans. . However, Löw’s unquestionable authority made the team bosses believe that the glory days under his leadership would sooner or later return. However, this did not happen, and the coach and the federation decided to part with the world: the 15-year history of the Bundesteam and Joachim ended on such a sad note.
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Flick, Löw’s former assistant, had then been Hoffenheim’s sporting director for a year and in 2019 began the most skillful rehabilitation of his coaching career. After ceasing to be an assistant, he replaced Niko Kovac, and what happened next is history. That Bayern with the magnificent Lewandowski, who won all kinds of trophies in European football, will forever remain in the history of this sport. After three years as coach, Hans-Dieter leaves the team in search of new challenges.
The Bundesteam was finally convinced that Flick had already matured as a specialist and could bring no less benefits than Löw once did: at the end of the Euro, he takes over and signs a four-year contract. Before the coach had time to take his place, the “German machine” started up again: the team won the first five games and became the first team to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.
Coincidentally, it was not possible to consolidate success. Memories of the Bundesteam’s failure still remain in the fans’ memories. A defeat for Japan, a draw with Spain and only one victory over the Costa Rica team. For the second time in a row, the team failed to advance from the group stage, which can certainly be considered a good reason for mourning among the German people.
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The poor performance was due to the short time needed to prepare the team, and the German federation officials immediately made it clear that Flick would prepare the team for Euro 2024 at home. However, the last dance failed again: 1 victory in six friendly matches (by the way, they lost again to Japan) left the heads of the German Football Federation no other option: the specialist was fired from his position.
BACK TO GERMANY
The dismissal of the veteran national team player forced the DFB presidents, Peter Peters and Ryan Koch, to reflect on the future development of the national team. After a long check and three “merged” international tournaments, it was realized that a well-functioning mechanism needed new “gears”. Over the years, the Germans painstakingly built a system, and no matter how successful it was, it was not intended to last.
Germany beat France in the first match after Flick’s dismissal
In Germany, one of the strongest generations of football is being born in the person of such young but proven fighters like Mukoko, Adeyemi, Musila, etc. requires the invitation of an equally promising specialist. And then the pragmatists of the DFB managed to hit the jackpot. Last season, Julian Nagelsmann, replaced by the “all at once” option in front of Tuchel, has the opportunity to once again prove to everyone that he is ready to achieve something serious at 36 years old.
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One of the reasons for his dismissal from Bayern was his young age, which is why many players did not take their mentor seriously. Now Julian has the opportunity to work in a comfortable environment and become a “true” successor to Loew’s traditions. The coach himself also expresses his desire: he did not spare himself in terminating his contract with Bayern, according to which the club paid him a salary until 2026. Fortunately, there is a good alternative proposed by the federation: Nagelsmann’s salary will be 400 thousand euros a month. Bild reports this.
Now begins a completely new chapter in the history of Nagelsmann and the German national team. After 15 years, the federation is ready to turn the page of history and revive one of the strongest football teams in the history of the game.
