Rudi Völler gave the team his backing when he was introduced as managing director of the national soccer team. He wants to win back the fans through sporting achievements. But he hasn’t let his cards be looked at all that much yet.
Even after the appointment of Rudi Völler as the new managing director of the national soccer team, both working groups set up by the DFB will continue to work. “Over the next few weeks, this task force will have one or two more ideas with which we are trying to stress the DFB’s committees,” said DFL supervisory board chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke at Völler’s presentation in Frankfurt on Friday. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf announced that the five business areas and especially the work in the DFB Academy would be put to the test.
After the World Cup preliminary round in Qatar at the beginning of December and the subsequent resignation of managing director Oliver Bierhoff, Neuendorf founded two working groups. A task force made up of prominent officials led by Watzke and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge put Völler in position as managing director for the A selection up to the home European Championship in 2024. This group now wants to continue working despite the clarification of the most important personal details. Another group around EM chief planner Philipp Lahm has a closer look at the DFB structures.
Rudi Völler has “little déjà vu”
Völler described his DFB comeback as a “little déjà vu”. As with his appointment as team boss in 2000, everyone around him looked at him and ultimately convinced him. But he also made it clear that he would only do his new job until the 2024 European Championship. “I’m doing it because I know it’s been 1.5 years,” he said. “I don’t imagine that I’m called to change all structures,” he said of the general need for reform at the DFB and the criticism that no young reformist was selected in it. “I’m aware that not everyone shouted hurray.” His motivation is the tournament in the summer after next. “I’m doing it because it’s the home European Championship,” said the 1990 world champion.
“I still think we have a very good team,” Völler said on Friday. The DFB-Elf could “play” for the European title in the summer after next. “I’ll be very happy and energetic,” promised the 62-year-old. His relationship with national coach Hansi Flick is excellent. In a few days he will meet with Flick to exchange views.
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On the way to the home European Championship in 2024, Völler announced that the DFB selection would be closer to the fans. “The basis of everything are the national players, the national coach, that we sell ourselves well in sport, but also give ourselves closer to the people in the run-up,” said the 62-year-old at his presentation on Friday in Frankfurt / Main. “We’ll see what that will look like.”
“Winning back fans” with the DFB-Elf
Völler will take up his new position on February 1st, followed by the first international matches at the end of March. “I don’t want to promise anything,” said Völler, citing the kick-off times for international matches and public training sessions as possible leverage. The DFB selection was repeatedly criticized for alienating itself from the German fans before the preliminary round at the World Cup in Qatar at the end of last year.
“We have to see that we win back the spectators, the fans,” said Völler. But it is hypocritical to say that the national team is now going back to sports schools in preparation for international matches. You could do that, “but it’s important that we have sporting success”.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
