First Indonesia, then Wales: These were the last business trips that Joti Chatzialexiou undertook on behalf of the German Football Association (DFB).
The national sports director was also there for the final of the U17 juniors’ World Cup triumph, as was the DFB women’s final step in Olympic qualification. But now, after two decades, both sides are drawing a line.
Chatzialexiou is leaving the world’s largest individual sports association at the end of the year at his own request, the DFB announced on Tuesday (12/12/23): “After open discussions with the management, the DFB management decided to fulfill the 47-year-old Frankfurt native’s wish to pursue new professional paths.” The separation has been apparent for a long time. It is entirely possible that Chatzialexiou will continue to work in the Bundesliga in the future in a role that has yet to be determined; contacts with VfB Stuttgart are said to have already existed.
That’s why he also emphasized: “The decision to leave after exactly 20 years has been brewing in me for a long time because I want to fulfill my wish to share my knowledge and passion for innovative youth and elite development together with my global network after half my professional life at the DFB “I would also like to contribute to the dynamically developing international football in another place in order to face new challenges professionally and personally and to explore other subject areas.”
His position no longer exists in the new structure
There were warm words from his old employer. “With Joti Chatzialexiou, a central player is leaving who has played a key role in shaping the DFB over the last two decades. With great commitment and great expertise behind the scenes, he has repeatedly set the course for German football.”said DFB President Bernd Neuendorf as he said goodbye.
Nevertheless, by enthroning Andreas Rettig as sports director, the association boss had created a structure in which Chatzialexiou simply became superfluous. As is well known, Rudi Völler is responsible for the senior national team and the U21 until the 2024 European Championships, Hannes Wolf is responsible for the young talent and for the women, Nia Künzer will be in charge of the national team and the female U20 from January 1st next year.
It was his idea to bring in Martina Voss-Tecklenburg
Chatzialexiou had delved deeply into the subject, especially with women: It was his idea to guide Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, who works in Switzerland, as national coach to the DFB in 2018 after the first interlude of the successful interim coach Horst Hrubesch. Both have built up a close relationship of trust over the years; Chatzialexiou was also on site at the 2023 World Cup in Australia, but was unable to act as a corrective to prevent the undesirable developments.
Nevertheless, Chatzialexiou emphasized the positive in retrospect: “It has always been a great honor for me to work for the DFB. So I leave with one crying and one laughing eye. Over the last two decades, I have not only been able to advance a lot with our teams and celebrate many successes, but I have also met great and committed people. Many lifelong friendships were formed during this time.”
Oliver Bierhoff’s construct has been shattered
However, since the men’s national team presented a very poor picture at both the 2021 European Championships and the 2022 World Cup, and the U21 team failed early at the European Championships last summer, the sporting director also came under criticism. Many in the association valued his expertise, but the expert probably simply had too many responsibilities. In addition, the association apparently wanted to completely destroy the structure of director Oliver Bierhoff, who was fired after the World Cup: the academy director Tobias Haupt was also recently let go. The 39-year-old sports management professor was personally hired by Bierhoff.
Chatzialexiou came to the DFB in December 2003 and experienced the “summer fairy tale” up close in 2006 as a speaker for Secretary General Horst R. Schmidt. He then took over as manager of the U21 national team and, together with sports director Matthias Sammer, developed fundamental reforms in the promotion of talent for German football. He was also responsible for the professionalization of the national teams in the areas of scouting and game analysis, fitness, nutrition, sports psychology and medicine.
Much praise for the achievements of the past
“Chatzialexiou was never just interested in today’s sport, but rather, with a view to the future of the association, he was heavily involved with Oliver Bierhoff in the conception and content development of the DFB academy and the development of the DFB campus.”, wrote the DFB in its statement. On a sporting level, he was also responsible for creating the innovative “Project Future” concept.
During this time he also had his first sporting successes with the DFB with the U19 in 2008 and the following year with the U17 and U21, which each won the European Championship title. During this high, Chatzialexiou also took on responsibility for all of the DFB’s other U-national teams and, from this role, shaped the successful sporting direction of the association in the background over several years as a driving force under the sports directors Robin Dutt, Hansi Flick and Horst Hrubesch. In addition to the expertise, everyone also appreciated the loyalty of this DFB employee.