Official: DFB parts company with Flick
The German F.A. confirmed Bundestrainer Hansi Flick's termination on Sunday afternoon.
Yesterday's embarrassing 1-4 loss to Japan in a friendly has cost German national team head-coach Hans Dieter Flick his job. The German F.A. confirmed that the 58-year-old had been relieved of his duties effective immediately on Sunday afternoon. DFB manager Rudi Völller will lead the team in their next scheduled friendly on Tuesday, assisted by DFB coaches Hannes Wolf and Sandro Wagner.
The most recent loss left the German national team without a win in five consecutive fixtures under Flick's guidance. The German "Nationalmannschaft" faces a mammoth task ahead of next year's Euros, which will be hosted in the Bundesrepublik. Four more friendlies are scheduled for the automatically qualified hosts before the end of the calendar year.
"The committees agreed that the senior men's national team needs a new impetus after the recent disappointing results," DFB President Bernd Neuendorf remarked in a statement released by the German F.A,, "We need a spirit of optimism and confidence with a view to the European Championship in our own country."
"For me personally, it is one of the most difficult decisions in my tenure thus far," Neundorf continued, "Because I value Hansi Flick and his assistant coaches as football experts and people. Sporting success must nevertheless take top priority for the DFB. Therefore, the decision was inevitable."
The DFB noted that a replacement for Flick would be procured as quickly as possible. Flick's tenure as the 10th trainer in charge of the German national football team lasted just over two years. He finished with a record of 12 wins, seven draws, and six defeats.