Telephone calls with Bernd Neuendorf will also have an important informative character for Hansi Flick in the coming weeks.
The DFB President wants to keep the national coach up to date on the progress of the prominent advisory group around Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Matthias Sammer. "He will know what is being discussed," said Neuendorf and promised to share with Flick any insights gained into resolving the crisis in the national soccer team.
This also includes the names of potential successors to Managing Director Oliver Bierhoff. Neuendorf did not explicitly grant the head coach a right of veto, but good cooperation between Flick and Mr. X on the way to the EM 2024 is a basic condition, the head of the association assured. Neuendorf ironed out personnel speculation when he announced the commission on Tuesday. But who could Flick work well with? Where would it crunch?
The former world champions
Per Mertesacker, Sami Khedira, maybe Bastian Schweinsteiger too. There are several potential candidates from among the Rio heroes of 2014 for a role as team manager, with junior specialist Mertesacker being more of an option for a leading position in the DFB academy. But the fact is: the former greats naturally have a particularly close relationship with Flick, who was assistant coach to world champion coach Joachim Löw at the time. The trust would be there. A clear hierarchy would have to develop.
The Bundesliga makers
Fredi Bobic is considered the top candidate. At Hertha BSC you would (let) come to terms. The cooperation with Flick would be an interesting constellation. Both are considered short-tempered and stubborn at times. It could be a bang, but it could also be productive. Thomas Hitzlsperger, as the former CEO of VfB Stuttgart, would also come with a Bundesliga background, but also with player experience under DFB assistant Flick. Hitzlsperger also has strong opinions, but in terms of character he fits more into the flick pattern than Bobic.
The uncomfortable
Ralf Rangnick would have liked to come to the DFB at some point, whether as a coach or sports director - and with many new ideas. It is unlikely that the current Austria coach will change. It would probably also be a challenge for everyone, including Flick. Matthias Sammer would also fall into the same category as an opinionated player with a guarantee of friction. The catch: Sammer has already ruled out a full-time commitment and is now a member of the commission. A vocation would have a taste.
The Aunt Kathe solution
Excluded? Is in the difficult situation of the national team nothing. That was already the case in 2000. When everyone in the crisis committee looked at Rudi Völler long enough, he was suddenly the DFB team boss. So why not again? As a DFB team manager with a close connection to Flick, the players and a nostalgia bonus for the fans? Maybe only for 18 months until the EM, until the waves are calmed down and EM organization chief Philipp Lahm could be available - after all, he belongs in the category of ex-world champions.
