After Germany’s exit from the World Cup: Mertesacker ready for a job in German football

The former central defender headed the youth academy of his last club, Arsenal FC, until this summer and therefore has extensive experience in training and promoting talent. Mertesacker also made it clear that there would be no quick commitment to the DFB. He first wants to finish his work as an expert at ZDF during the World Cup and then go on vacation. “What I also wanted to do, of course, after 15 years at Arsenal FC and eight years in the academy there: take the time to reflect on everything I experienced there,” emphasized the 104-time international.

Experts are calling for a rethink in the training of young talent

After the World Cup exit in the round of 16 and the resignation of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, the DFB is facing upheaval. During discussions with Klopp about Nagelsmann’s successor, Rettig announced that he would be stepping down as sports director at the end of the year. It remains unclear whether Rudi Völler will remain sports director.

Former world champions Lothar Matthäus and Bastian Schweinsteiger as well as goalkeeper legend Oliver Kahn had also called for a rethink in the DFB when it comes to training young talent. “We have to get back to certain old virtues, and they start with the young,” Matthäus said. ARD expert Schweinsteiger made a similar statement: “And we have given up or neglected our own strengths – probably a few people don’t want to hear that – our virtues for which we were respected abroad.” The 41-year-old explicitly mentioned “robustness, identity, struggle”.