Hammer: Oliver Bierhoff leaves DFB with immediate effect!

Bang in the late evening: Oliver Bierhoff leaves the German Football Association as a consequence of the World Cup debacle after 18 years. The DFB announced the termination of the contract on Monday.

Bierhoff was most recently “Managing Director National Teams and Academy” at the association. The DFB committees are to discuss the succession plan. His working paper originally ran until 2024.

“After 18 years in responsible positions at the German Football Association, I have ended my position as Managing Director National Teams & Academy with immediate effect. I agreed on this today with President Bernd Neuendorf. I’m paving the way for new decisions,” said Bierhoff quoted in a press release.

“Some decisions didn’t turn out to be the right ones”

The embarrassing last World Cup appearances in Qatar and Russia had hurt him, the EM hero of 1996, who had been caught in the crossfire, admitted.

“That’s why I’m not leaving without the necessary self-criticism. In the past four years we haven’t managed to build on previous successes and give the fans reason to celebrate again. Some decisions that we were convinced of didn’t turn out to be the proved correct. Nobody regrets that more than I do. I take responsibility for that,” said Bierhoff.

After the embarrassing end of the preliminary round, Bierhoff initially signaled that he wanted to continue his work and ruled out resigning. A meeting with Neuendorf, Vice Hans-Joachim Watzke, national coach Hansi Flick and Bierhoff in Frankfurt/Main was scheduled for Wednesday.

DFB boss Neuendorf struck a conciliatory note when saying goodbye: “Oliver Bierhoff has done a great job for the DFB. Even if the last tournaments fell short of the sporting goals, he stands for great moments. His work will forever be linked to the World Cup success Stay connected in Brazil. Even in turbulent times, he always pursued his goals and visions and left a lasting mark on the DFB.”

18 years in association

Bierhoff joined the DFB in 2004 at the same time as national coach Jürgen Klinsmann. He had previously scored 37 goals in 70 international matches and made the DFB team European champions in the 1996 European Championship final with his two final goals, including the first golden goal.

In 2004, two years after his last international match, he began as manager of the DFB selection. In 2018 he became Director National Teams and Academy and in 2022 Managing Director National Teams and Academy of DFB GmbH & Co KG.

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