Oliver Bierhoff and Hansi Flick have been companions at the DFB for many years, and in 2014 they became world champions together. But the common path is over, Bierhoff leaves the DFB after the World Cup debacle. National coach Flick will miss Bierhoff.
Hansi Flick reacted with great regret to the departure of Oliver Bierhoff from the German Football Association – the national coach does not currently see a suitable successor plan. “My coaching team and I are finding it difficult at the moment to imagine how the gap created by Oliver’s departure can be closed professionally and personally. Our cooperation has always been characterized by loyalty, team spirit, trust and reliability. Cohesion was in the DNA of our team,” said Flick quoted in a message on the DFB homepage.
Bierhoff and the DFB had terminated the DFB director’s contract, which ran until the 2024 European Championships at home. Flick did not comment on his own future in the statement, but did comment on the importance of working with Bierhoff. He has been in charge of the national team since 2004, first as team manager and later as director.
“For me personally, Oliver was my first point of contact and friend within the team. Our common goal was the EURO 2024 project in Germany. For Oliver, the focus was always and exclusively on the well-being of the national team, the DFB and German football. Thank you him personally and as the national coach for this long collaboration and the invaluable trust that has arisen. This trust is and will remain the greatest asset in football,” said Flick.
Flick is scheduled to meet with DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and DFL Supervisory Board Chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke on Wednesday, at which the failure of the World Cup in the group phase will be analyzed. Flick had previously emphasized that he did not want to vacate his post and lead the national team to the home European Championship.