Horst Hrubesch represents Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, who is ill, and will be national coach “until further notice,” as stated in a DFB statement. The 72-year-old is joining the women’s national team for the second time after 2018. A classification.
In September it became known that Voss-Tecklenburg was ill – she had returned from the World Cup in Australia, which was a failure for the Germans, “mentally and physically weakened,” her husband Hermann Voss-Tecklenburg told “Bild”. Since then, the DFB has found itself in a difficult situation: a sick employee must be allowed to recover, but she certainly cannot be fired – neither legally nor morally.
The situation is also tricky because the coach has lost the support of the team and because there was a lot of criticism of tactical and personnel decisions after the early World Cup exit.
Return of “MVT” uncertain
Recently, several national players also wanted clarity in the position of national coach. Assistant coach Britta Carlson looked after the team in the first two games in the Nations League. She has no ambitions to take over the position of boss – she is also a loyal employee and has a friendship-like relationship with Voss-Tecklenburg.
The 55-year-old does not have a torn cruciate ligament like a player for whom the return to the pitch can at least be roughly estimated. However, this state of limbo led to uncertainty among the players.
Hrubesch comes with a tailwind
So now the DFB presents the Horst Hrubesch variant – back to the future. The HSV veteran took over the position of the unsuccessful national coach Steffi Jones for eight months in 2018 – and the players are still raving about working with “Horst”. From conversations at eye level, genuine interest, the ability to motivate, the friendly and pleasant interaction.
That means: Hrubesch comes with a tailwind and is welcomed by the team with open arms. The new DFB sports director Andreas Rettig has discussed the situation with the most important players in the past few days – there too could have been a clear yes to the veteran.
“A matter of the heart” for Hrubesch
He heads the HSV’s youth performance center and is released by the club – as is assistant coach Thomas Nörenberg – for the footballers’ courses and international matches. The national team is “a matter of the heart,” said Hrubesch. Nörenberg was part of the coaching team at the DFB under Hrubesch and then also under Voss-Tecklenburg, which he left voluntarily after the successful Euro last August.
To the regret of many female footballers who really appreciate his human nature. According to information from “Bild”, the two will look after the team together with Britta Carlson at least until the end of the year. A DFB spokeswoman did not confirm this to NDR and referred to the wording “until further notice”.
The DFB is buying time
This creates a bit of clarity – just “until further notice”. There will be no permanent solution with Hrubesch. And the problems in dealing with Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, her illness, but also the internal and external criticism – they are being postponed and a solution seems far away. The DFB is buying time. And he is counting on Hrubesch being able to inspire the team again as he did in his first term as interim national coach.
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Sports current | Oct 7, 2023 | 4:17 p.m
