German FA ditches 'Die Mannschaft' as brand name
The German national team will no longer be called 'Die Mannschaft' by the DFB.
The German Football Association (DFB) will no longer actively promote its men's national team with the marketing name "Die Mannschaft" in the future.
This was unanimously agreed upon at a supervisory board and shareholders' meeting in Frankfurt today.
The decision was based on an analysis of the brand used since 2015, which shows a recent increase in interest in the team and greater satisfaction with its appearances, as well as rising popularity for 'Die Mannschaft'. However, the attitude towards the continued use of the name in particular wasn't uniform.
Alexander Wehrle, chairman of the DFB's supervisory board commented:
"We have analyzed the brand name 'Die Mannschaft' extensively and discussed it intensively. Opinions differ not only among fans, but also within the DFB. This is a clear sign of the polarization of a name that everyone is supposed to rally behind.
"Hansi Flick's team is for everyone, and everyone can call it whatever he or she wants. After all, it's not so much what the team is called that matters, but what's in it. And that's where we agree: We have an inspiring national team with a lot of potential and fascinating characters."