Germany manager Joachim Low will quit after this summer’s European Championship finals following a 15-year spell in charge.
Low, who has held the position as Germany boss since 2006 and won the World Cup in 2014, has been under intense scrutiny in recent times following some disastrous results and reports of a rift with his players.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is the early favourite to succeed Low, although German newspaper Bild report that Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick is the leading candidate for the job.
Germany were humiliated in a 6-0 defeat by Spain last November – their heaviest defeat in almost 90 years – while Low was heavily criticised by some of his squad for axing experienced stars Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng following their abysmal 2018 World Cup campaign.
Joachim Low has announced that he will step down as Germany boss after 15 years in charge
It comes just months after Germany were thrashed 6-0 by Spain in the UEFA Nations League
Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp has been linked with the job for years and is the people’s choice
The World Cup-winning trio were all told by Low back in March 2019 that they would no longer be part of his plans, which left them and senior Germany players like Toni Kroos baffled.
However, Low admitted over the weekend that he is considering making a U-turn and recalling Muller and Hummels to his squad ahead of the Euros.
Despite his recent struggles and Germany’s woeful performance at the last major tournament, where they failed to get out of the group stage at the World Cup in Russia and were beaten by Mexico and South Korea, Low insists he can look back on his time in charge with immense pride.
This SofaScore graphic shows Low’s overall record as Germany manager in his 15-year spell
Jerome Boateng (centre left), Mats Hummels (centre right) and Thomas Muller (right) have been omitted from Low’s squads since Germany’s shocking 2018 World Cup exit
Toni Kroos was one of several senior stars to have questioned Low’s decision to axe them
Low led Germany to World Cup glory in Brazil in 2014 after beating Argentina in the final
After the announcement on Tuesday, Low said: ‘I’m taking this step very consciously, full of pride and enormous gratitude, but at the same time will continue to be very motivated when it comes to the upcoming European Championships.
‘I’m proud, because it’s something very special and an honor for me to be involved in my country. And because I have been able to work with the best footballers in the country for almost 17 years and support them in their development.
‘I have great triumphs with them and painful defeats, but above all many wonderful and magical moments – not just winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I am and will remain grateful to the DFB, which has always provided me and the team with an ideal work environment.’
Under the 61-year-old, Germany have routinely reached the latter part of major international tournaments – aside from Russia in 2018 – and famously lifted the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
Low, who took over the job from Jurgen Klinsmann in 2006, has also led Germany to a third-place finish at the 2010 World Cup as well as two European Championship semi-finals and one final in 2008, where they suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat against Spain.
As well as delivering Germany’s fourth World Cup success seven years ago, Low also won the Confederations Cup in 2017.
His contract with the Germany national team ran until 2022 but Low has decided to cut it short to leave this summer.
Mario Gotze pictured scoring his iconic extra-time winner in the World Cup final in 2014
Low also won the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia after Germany beat Chile 1-0 in the final
But Low has been under immense pressure in recent years, following some disastrous results
The news of his impending departure will now raise questions about the future of Klopp, who is top of a fan poll in BILD to be the next Germany manager.
Reports in Germany last month claimed that Liverpool boss Klopp is attracted by the prospect of replacing Low and returning to work in his homeland.
Klopp, who has a contract at Liverpool until 2024 and is loved at Anfield having won the Champions League and Premier League, has endured a torrid season and is in the midst of a crisis on Merseyside following six straight home defeats. He is, however, understood to have the unequivocal backing of Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group and recently insisted he has no plans to walk away from the club.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss, 53, has been linked with the Germany post for some time, but quashed rumours back in November that he would leave Liverpool to take over the reins from Low.
‘Maybe in the future but now, no, because I have no time,’ he said.
‘I also have a job – a pretty intense job by the way.
Low insisted he can look back on his 15 years in charge of the national team with real pride
Low never won the Euros, but came agonisingly close in 2008, losing the final 1-0 to Spain
‘I am not sure if anybody has asked me but if they don’t know I have a job here at Liverpool.
‘I like it and I am responsible for a lot of things here so I will not go and search for another challenge.’
Today Bild report that Klopp ‘is tempted by the 2024 European Championships’ but would not consider managing Germany ‘before the 2022 World Cup’, and that he is concentrating solely on solving the current crisis at Anfield.
Germany legend Lothar Matthaus had led the calls for Klopp to replace Low as manager of Die Mannschaft and wanted to see him take charge before this summer’s Euros.
But Low, who received a vote of confidence from DFB president Fritz Keller the day after the 6-0 thrashing in Seville, will take charge for a final tournament before being replaced.
Liverpool boss Klopp and Germany Under-21 boss Stefan Kuntz are favourites to succeed Low
The German FA are expected to begin the search for his successor immediately with Klopp and their under-21 head coach Stefan Kuntz – who scored against England in the Euro 96 semi-final at Wembley – the early favourites.
Bild report, however, that it is Flick, who won the Champions League with Bayern last season, who leads the race. They claim that ‘tensions at Bayern between sports director Hasan Salihamidzic and Flick are still a big issue’ and that the Germany job is a ‘tempting option’ but add that ‘only at the end of the season he will reassess his situation in Munich’.
Low’s preferred candidate to be his successor is said to be Marcus Sorg, who is on his coaching staff. Another coach, Oliver Bierhoff, would also back Sorg, according to Bild. They also report, however, that Sorg would not represent a clean break from Low so might not fit the bill.
Finally, former RB Leipzig boss Ralf Rangnick is also admired by the DFB as a ‘visionary’ and ‘professor’, according to Bild, who hail his ‘great willingness to transform’.
Bayern Munich’s Champions League winning boss Hansi Flick is the favourite, report Bild
