118 games, 80 wins, 21 draws, 17 losses, an average of 2.21 points per game and 290 goals scored, 2.46 every 90 minutes on average – Joachim Löw is the most successful national team manager in the DFB’s history. He has also been a World Champion since 13th July 2014. He could simply bask in his current success, but he hasn’t lost any of his hunger – that’s just not how he is.
When Löw took to the podium alongside DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach at the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt on Friday, he jokingly stated why he wanted to continue his work as Germany manager after 3,166 days in office: “I’m slowly starting to sense that my job is a little bit fun.”
“Following up that success in Brazil is a huge incentive”
The national team coach has EURO 2016 in France firmly in his sights, but the 2018 World Cup hasn’t slipped his mind either. Success hasn’t left Löw feeling like he’s achieved what he needs do; it has left him with a hunger to repeat it. “Following up that success in Brazil is a huge challenge and incentive,” said Löw. “Our young team is not at the end of its development, and the same goes for the majority of our players.”
These statements of intent of course followed the news that broke a few minutes earlier in Frankfurt. Joachim Löw has extended his contract with the DFB, keeping him as the Germany national team manager until at least 2018. His assistant Thomas Schneider and goalkeeping coach Andreas Köpke also extended their deals until 2018. National team caretaker Oliver Bierhoff signed on for even longer, extending his contract until 2020 as he also prepares to take on the project management of the DFB Academy.
Niersbach: “An important signal of continuity”
A contract extension always has two sides to it. The DFB are completely satisfied with the manager; Löw has delivered everything the Association expected of him and more. “It’s a logical and simple step to continue our collaboration and something we have been anxious to do,” said DFB president Niersbach. He sees extending Löw’s contract ahead of the EUROs in France as “an important signal of continuity”. The president and the Germany manager first discussed the possibility of a new deal in November 2014 on the flight back from Spain after a 1-0 win to round off a very successful year. A second opportunity to approach the matter arose at the DFB Christmas party at the Commerzbank-Arena, as the two parties edged ever closer to an agreement. It wasn’t long until a contract was ready to be signed. “There wasn’t too much negotiating required,” said Niersbach.
The other side of the coin is that the national team manager knows exactly what he will get from his employers. He has been given optimal conditions by the Association; Löw knows he has the backing and support he needs to do his job. He didn’t need to do much deliberating when the opportunity arose to extend his stay beyond 2016. “My heart and mind both said yes,” explained Löw. “I would like to thank the whole DFB presidential board, especially president Wolfgang Niersbach and general secretary Helmut Sandrock, for their show of faith, support and the offer of extending my contract ahead of schedule,” the Germany manager added, before speaking on behalf of his entire management team: “Thomas Schneider, Andy Köpke, Oliver Bierhoff and I have accepted his offer because we enjoy working with the players and the team behind the team. We want to continue this path we’re on together; we still have big intentions.”