For a long time, Sami Khedira was considered a top candidate for the position of sporting director at the DFB, but now negotiations have apparently broken down. Nevertheless, the sluggish search is probably nearing its end.
Sami Khedira already had his plan for a return to the top of the world in the drawer. And actually, it seemed, he was about to sign with the German Football Association (DFB) as sporting director – but the negotiations have now unexpectedly fallen through. Nevertheless, the sluggish search of the crisis-ridden DFB, which has been going on for months, is apparently entering the home straight despite the failed talks with the Rio World Champion.
DFB boss Bernd Neuendorf reportedly informed the association’s executive committee in a video link-up that Khedira would not take over the legacy of former director Oliver Bierhoff. Sport Bild cited different ideas about Khedira’s salary, structures and influence as reasons for this. According to the Frankfurter Rundschau (FR), however, the DFB could present an alternative plan as early as the start of next week.
Less than a year before the important European home championship, Hannes Wolf (42), former Bundesliga coach and current DFB U20 coach, would be appointed technical director and act as head of a new competence team. Responsibility would then be spread over several shoulders, according to FR, ex-professionals Hanno Balitsch and Sandro Wagner, both already active in the association, are also available. The DFB did not want to comment on the media reports when asked by the SID.
According to Sport Bild, Khedira (36), who was considered the hottest candidate for the top job, had wanted to bring “at least one member of staff” and had presented salary expectations that would have further burdened the financially struggling DFB. After the 2024 European Championship finals in Germany, he could also have succeeded national team director Rudi Völler, but probably wanted to have the succession already confirmed.
Before the report on the failed negotiations, Khedira had taken a critical look at the association – and pleaded for extensive reforms on the way back to the top of the world. He called for a quick rethink in the youth sector, and the former midfielder also expressed grave concerns about the national team’s chances at the European Championship.
The DFB apparently did not want to grant Khedira the influence he had hoped for. While the association probably sees the blame on the former national player, Sport Bild reports of displeasure from the ranks of the clubs. One club boss, who was not named, criticised that Khedira’s signing “could not fail because of 100,000 euros”.
After the sporting disappointments of the men’s team, the U21s and most recently the DFB women’s team, the headlines surrounding the DFB are not abating. For months, Neuendorf has been referring to ongoing talks and an imminent agreement in the search for a sports director. But the financial problems have limited the scope for action, and the personnel problems are a burden on the association.
Especially since the World Cup debacle of Alexandra Popp and her team, the search is on for an expert who is primarily responsible for the sporting matters in women’s football. According to the FR, Joti Chatzialexiou, until now sporting director of the DFB national teams, is considered a candidate for the position, which Popp and DFB vice-president Celia Sasic, among others, had demanded after the preliminary round exit in Australia.