After Germany’s World Cup Exit, Bierhoff And DFB Agree Contract Termination

Oliver Bierhoff is the first domino to fall after Germany’s embarrassing World Cup performance. The director of Germany’s national team and academies and the DFB announced Monday that they would go their separate ways. Bierhoff offered his resignation on Monday, which was quickly accepted by DFB president Bernd Neuendorf.

“I’ve told German FA president, Bernd Neuendorf, of my decision today,” Bierhoff wrote in a personal statement published by The Athletic.“I’m clearing the path for setting a new course.”

Bierhoff has been a part of the DFB since 2004, and he helped Germany win the World Cup in 2014 and the Confederation Cup in 2017. With Bierhoff in charge, Germany reached the final of the European Championships in 2008 and three more semifinals at major competitions, finishing third at the World Cup in 2006 and 2010. Bierhoff also oversaw the construction of a $150 million training center for the national team.

Together with former Bundestrainer Joachim Löw, Bierhoff was undoubtedly one of the faces of Germany’s reboot in the early 2000s that ultimately led to the triumph in Brazil in 2014. Another semifinal at Euro 2016 and the Confederations victory followed. Still, since then, Die Nationalmannschaft has seen a steady decline that culminated in two historic back-to-back group stage exits at the World Cup.

“Oliver Bierhoff has done magnificent work at the DFB,” DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said in a statement published on the federations homepage. “Even though the last few tournaments have been below our sporting goals, his name stands for big moments. We will always associate him with the triumph in Brazil. Even during troubled times, [Bierhoff] always tried to accomplish his goals and visions and left his footprint on the DFB.”

The World Cup triumph aside, there is a sense in Germany that the national team has been performing below expectations for some time. Bierhoff’s commercialization of the team and the branding Die Mannschaft were just two aspects. Also, the title in Brazil aside, there was always a sense that Germany’s golden generation should have won more than one major title.

With results degrading over the last five years, calls for Bierhoff to step down have grown across German football. Bierhoff, therefore, approaching the DFB to terminate his contract is a preemptive move welcomed by the decision-makers.

The question is, what will happen next at the DFB? Bierhoff is likely just the first domino to fall. The entire leadership around president Neuendorf is also under fire, and head coach Hansi Flick, who was only appointed a year ago, has also seen some criticism.

Flick’s job, for now, seems safe, but with a new director to come in—Hertha sporting director Fredi Bobic is a candidate—there is a chance that more wide-sweeping changes could come to the world’s largest football federation. Whether those changes will immediately impact Germany’s success on the pitch remains to be seen.

German football, after all, is no stranger to revolutions. The federation completely restructured its program in the early 2000s, but real success did not come for another ten years. Time is of the essence, though, as Germany will host the Euros in 2024.

Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing Podcast and the Area Manager USA at Transfermarkt. He has also been published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth