Philipp Lahm and Sami Khedira should bring their knowledge to VfB Stuttgart. The future of sports director Sven Mislintat remains open.
At some point, Sami Khedira looked at Philipp Lahm and realized: “The last time we both saw each other was with the gold trophy, I think.” A whiff of Rio 2014 wafted through the room at that moment, and that was definitely what VfB Stuttgart wanted. “We have world champions, Champions League winners and German champions sitting here”Alexander Wehrle had said before with a proud grin when he moderated his club’s latest coup.
Lahm, the German captain at the 2014 World Cup triumph, and his former DFB colleague Khedira will advise Wehrle in the future. Former VfB captain Christian Gentner will also become head of the licensed players department from January 1st. The trio was presented on Monday (09/12/2022).
Mislintat with contract until 2023
The arrival of these three greats in the club’s history had recently sparked some speculation, especially with regard to Sven Mislintat. The head of sports, who only has a contract until 2023 anyway, could gradually lose influence and then soon lose his job.
The commitments of the two former world champions Khedira and Lahm as advisors and the return campaign by ex-captain Gentner would not have any impact on Mislintat’s post. The club have “With Sven someone who has excellent expertise. He is a professional, and I am therefore sure that he will be happy if other perspectives are included in the future.”. With a view to his contract extension, he wanted to be seen from the outside “don’t let it put you under pressure”according to Wehrle.
Wehrle: “Both not pleasant conversation partners”
With a view to the contract expiring in the summer of 2023, the CEO of VfB expects tough negotiations. “We have clearly discussed the course of action”said Wehrle at the presentation of the three returnees on Monday. “We have agreed that we will start talks after the transfer period. I will take the time to make a good decision in the interests of VfB Stuttgart. These will be intensive talks. Neither of us are pleasant contractual partners and that’s why I’m looking forward to it.”
Undoubtedly there is “to discuss a few things in the process that is pending for VfB”, added Wehrle. However, club president Claus Vogt made it clear that the club “a functioning athletic team” have. Lahm and Khedira should only advise the board.
Lahm: “We will not decide anything”
Khedira, who ended his career in 2021, and former national team captain Lahm will support Wehrle in the future. “I will not speak publicly about a game, nor about players. It’s just not my job.”said Khedira. Lahm added: “The model appealed to me and we have different perspectives that we want to bring in. But in the end we won’t decide anything.”
Gentner is still under contract with the Swiss first division club FC Luzern. He should be involved from January. “With these changes we are not improving, we are expanding a working system”said Wehrle. Whether Mislintat sees things similarly will become clear at the latest during the forthcoming contract negotiations.