For Roger Schmidt, becoming a national football coach is currently out of the question.
When asked about the search for a successor to Hansi Flick, the Benfica Lisbon coach said: “My ambition is to be at Benfica until 2026. That’s why I’ve signed a new contract here.” The 56-year-old had extended his contract with the Portuguese champions long-term just a few weeks ago.
After the separation from Flick, Schmidt’s name also came up because he was highly valued by DFB sports director Rudi Völler due to their time together at Bayer Leverkusen. Schmidt doesn’t rule out a job as a national coach in principle – but that’s not an issue at the moment.
“As you know me and my past as a coach, I am completely focused on the here and now”said the Benfica coach. “I’m very happy. I love my players, I love my staff. My contract extension was a clear decision for Benfica.”