Germany’s head coach Hansi Flick sacked

• Hansi Flick has been dismissed from his responsibilities as head coach of Germany.
• The news comes less than 24 hours after the humiliating 4-1 loss Die Mannschaft suffered at home against Japan in a friendly match.
• The team director Rudi Völler would be one of three managers sharing control of the next friendly match against France.

Hansi Flick has been dismissed from his responsibilities as head coach of Germany less than 24 hours after the humiliating 4-1 loss Die Mannschaft suffered at home against Japan in a friendly match.

In their past five international games under Flick, Germany has lost four and drawn one, while in their last 17 games overall, going back to March 2022, they have only won four times.

The German Football Association (DFB) responded to this change by announcing that team director Rudi Völler would be one of three managers sharing control of the next friendly match against France on Tuesday in Dortmund.

Rudi Voller will be the interim coach for the friendly match against France. Photo/DFB

In their last five games, the German squad has failed to win a single match, and they were eliminated early from the group stage of the World Cup the year before. The home audience booed the team’s performance during Saturday’s defeat in Wolfsburg.

Flick, 58, reaffirmed his willingness to continue leading the squad despite the loss to Japan. Only a few hours before, he had led the squad in a public training session that was seen by spectators before making this declaration.

Flick’s coaching career got off to a winning start with eight straight victories. However, none of the elite clubs in Europe were opponents in these victories. His record has since become worse, with only four victories in 17 games. Prior to joining the German national team the next year, Flick had earlier guided Bayern Munich to a Champions League championship in 2020.

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After the match against Japan, German team captain Ilkay Gundogan backed Flick’s decision to stay on as the head coach. He acknowledged the team’s disunity and lack of confidence, though.

Hansi Flick. Photo/ Premium Times Nigeria.

France presents a tough test for the interim coaching staff. Since losing the World Cup final in a penalty shootout to Argentina on penalties, the French squad has been in superb form, winning every one of their Euro 2024 qualifiers without giving up a goal.

An option for the permanent coaching role is Julian Nagelsmann, who followed Flick at Bayern until being sacked by Thomas Tuchel in March. Germany’s next matches are set for October 14 against the United States and October 18 against Mexico following the encounter against France.

Flick leaves his position as head coach with a record of 12 wins, seven draws, and six losses in 25 games after nearly two years in command. Germany is now placed 15th in the FIFA global rankings. He has subsequently guided Germany to just one victory in six games in 2023.

Julian Nagelsmann, a former coach at Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, and Hoffenheim, has emerged as one of the early favorites to succeed Flick as head coach of Germany.