Former world champion Nia Künzer fills the new position of sports director for the German footballers at the DFB. The 43-year-old from Wetzlar will take up her position on January 1st.
The German Football Association announced this on Thursday (December 7th, 2023) after a unanimous decision by the Supervisory Board and the Shareholders’ Meeting. As has been requested for a long time, the women’s national team will have its own person in charge, like Rudi Völler for the German men’s national team.
“Their critical eye, the ability to bring in other perspectives, their high level of social skills and their profound football knowledge will help us move forward in this area, which is a high priority for the DFB.”said association president Bernd Neuendorf in the press release.
“Size Challenges”
“There are big challenges ahead of us. It is essential for development in all areas that we get back on the road to success and win titles again.”said Künzer in the statement. Her responsibilities include the women’s national team, which suffered a debacle with the preliminary round exit at the World Cup in Australia in the summer, and the U20 team.
Wanted: successor to Horst Hrubesch
In addition, the 34-time national player for 1. FFC Frankfurt will probably help clarify the successor to interim national coach Horst Hrubesch, who will look after the national team until next summer at the most – when the DFB women qualify for the Olympics for Paris 2024.
The 72-year-old stepped in after a stalemate involving Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, who had been ill for a long time and whose contract the association has now terminated.
Golden goal unforgettable
Künzer celebrated her greatest success as a player in 2003. In the World Cup final in Carson (USA), she headed the golden goal against Sweden to make it 2-1. She most recently worked as an ARD expert and as department head for integration, social care and volunteering in the Giessen regional council.