Löw rules out Bayern job, speaks on return of Kroos, and answers Kruse's claim
In an interview with "Welt TV" on Sunday, former German Bundestrainer Joachim Löw ruled out potentially coaching FC Bayern München (or indeed any other club team). The 64-year-old made it clear that it would be his personal objective to coach a national team at the coming 2026 World Cup.
Löw also spoke on the return of Toni Kroos to the German national team in the Welt interview. A little earlier in the day, the "Sport Bild" tabloid published some choice words from Löw on Max Kruse's claim that he was passed over for the national team due to some sexual escapes in the team hotel.
Löw also spoke on the return of Toni Kroos to the German national team in the Welt interview. A little earlier in the day, the "Sport Bild" tabloid published some choice words from Löw on Max Kruse's claim that he was passed over for the national team due to some sexual escapes in the team hotel.
| Joachim Löw. | Photo: Granada, CC-by-SA 4.0 |
"Bayern are unlikely to be interested in me as a person or a coach," Löw said, "I'm not interested in Bayern München either."
Löw has not taken up another position since announcing his resignation from the German national team just prior to the summer 2021 Euros. Löw's career as a club coach prior to his appointment with the DFB included stops at Stuttgart and Karlsruhe in Germany. He also coached Adanaspor and Fenerbahçe in Turkey as well as Tirol Innsbruck and FK Wien in Austria.
As Bundestrainer, Löw was always traveling around the Bundesrepublik scouting players. He frequently popped up in the stands at games in his native Freiburg. The man who led Germany to the 2014 World Championship spoke of a "fitting challenge" when selecting his next assignment.
"I've traveled through this country for 17 years, been to all kinds of stadiums and know the clubs very well," Löw said, "That's no motivation for me. The 2026 World Cup, America, Canada, Mexico. I would find that exciting."
Löw also spoke on Toni Kroos' return to the German national team, noting that current Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann "would have to figure out where he will fit." Kroos departed from the Nationalmannschaft alongside Löw following the Round-of-16 elimination in the 2021 Euros. Regarding a potential move of Leverkusen trainer Xabi Alonso to his former club over the summer, Löw simply offered up praise for the Spaniard.
It was something of a busy media day for the former Bundestrainer, who also conducted an interview with Germany's Sport Bild tabloid over the weekend. The more sensational "Boulevard Blatt" wanted to know what Löw thought of the recently retired Max Kruse's assertion that he fell out of favor with Löw due to a "female visitor" he once welcomed to the team hotel.
Löw made no specific mention of the fact that - during the Euro 2012 tournament - the fact that Jerome Boateng had a public affair with a model during the group phases didn't affect the defender's playing prospects. Löw's statement did indicate that matters such as that weren't all that uncommon.
"Things like that have happened in the hotel before," Löw said, "Max simply wasn't good enough. He would have been better suited for an Uwe Seeler team with his lack of pace and dynamism. His omission was performance related. We wanted to be World Champions in football, not poker."