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Rudi Völler stays as DFB sporting director – even with Klopp

Rudi Völler will remain sporting director of the German Football Association (DFB) until the 2028 European Championship – even alongside a potential national coach Jürgen Klopp. He announced this in an interview with several media outlets.

Rudi Völler stays as DFB sporting director – even with Klopp
Photo: img.zeit.de

Rudi Völler will remain sporting director of the German Football Association (DFB) until the 2028 European Championship – even alongside a potential national coach Jürgen Klopp. He announced this in an interview with several media outlets.

Völler emphasized in the conversation that the task is close to his heart: “It would not have been a problem for me to put an end to it. But I care too much about all of this here.” He wants to “continue to help, in my own way.” Klopp has already contacted him; in a longer phone call, “it quickly became clear that it can and will work out in the end.”

However, the appointment is not yet finalized: Klopp and the association still have to overcome hurdles. Völler pointed to Klopp’s contractual obligation to Red Bull until 2029. Oliver Mintzlaff, managing director at Red Bull, encouraged him to continue and described a collaboration with Klopp as “super.”

Völler said he had “questioned himself” after the World Cup debacle. DFB Bernd Neuendorf, Vice President Hans-Joachim Watzke, and many club representatives urged him to stay. Nagelsmann was a “stroke of luck” but failed due to his communication, which led to poor morale in the team. “In the end, there was no longer a basis for cooperation,” Völler said.

Source: www.zeit.de