By: Walter M. Straten
Rudi Völler (63) has won our football hearts back for the national team. It wasn’t just the win against France. It was the passion, the fighting spirit, the courage! Like waking up from a nightmare!
The fans in Dortmund sang what Germany felt: “There is only one Rudi Völler.”
It would be so simple: DFB sports director Völler (with his coaches Wolf and Wagner) just carries on until the home European Championships.
BILD knows: (unfortunately) it won’t happen that way! Rudi sticks to no! He will continue to help, but not as national coach!
Yes, he said so in interviews and at the press conference. At least that’s what he thinks. But we just don’t want to believe him. Because Rudi was always there when he was needed!
► As a striker for Germany.
► As team leader. In 2000, DFB President Mayer-Vorfelder asked him in an emergency: “Rudi, why don’t you do that?” And he led a weak DFB team to runner-up in the 2002 World Cup.
► As DFB sports director, he came out of retirement to support Hansi Flick.
So why doesn’t Rudi Völler become national coach until the European Championships?
As a BILD reporter, I have known him for 30 years. I felt how happy he was about the Rudi enthusiasm in the country. But the past few days have pushed him to the limit.
Flick’s expulsion hurt him personally, but it had to be done. Gather a team of trainers in 24 hours. Taking responsibility for a totally insecure team. That gets to the substance.
That’s why he canceled his participation in the “60 Years of the Bundesliga” ceremony in Berlin on Wednesday. Take a deep breath, calm down!
Völler is clear: a younger coach should be in charge of the bench in the future. He is there as a sports director, advisor and perhaps as a fatherly friend.
Julian Nagelsmann (36) is considered the internal favorite. However, his contract with FC Bayern, where he was released on March 24th, is still running.
BILD knows: DFB Vice President Hans-Joachim Watzke (one of the three decision-makers alongside Rudi Völler and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf) has already asked FC Bayern about Nagelsmann. Watzke wanted to know whether the Munich team considered the young coach suitable for the national coaching role based on their experience.
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A team of Völler and Julian Nagelsmann (36), who are 27 years apart, who could be father and son. Who complement each other in experience and power. Is that the solution?
In any case, DFB vice-president Aki Watzke won’t try to change Rudi’s mind. He says: “Rudi is a stroke of luck for German football. We are happy to have him on board as the national team manager. In this respect, the suggestion of the task force and the decision of the DFB committees were obviously spot on.”
The new national coach should be chosen in the next three weeks. If there isn’t enough time? Rudi could step in again for the trip to America in October (against the USA and Mexico) if necessary. Really for the last time.
2023-09-13 18:23:58
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