Matthias Sammer criticizes German football and youth development

Addressing an audience of sports executives and media, the 59-year-old argued that German football has drifted away from the core traits that once defined it, choosing comfort over confrontation.

The Diagnosis: A Loss of Courage and Overcomplication

According to Sammer, the root of Germany’s current footballing malaise lies in an unwillingness to address hard truths.

“In Germany, we tend to talk things to death. We need the courage to push back and name things,” Sammer stated during the Munich forum. Pulling no punches, he added: “We are no longer brave; we have become cowards.”

Sammer argued that modern academies have unnecessarily complicated the fundamentals of the game. Rather than requiring exhaustive 400-page strategic concepts, he believes the path forward demands simplicity, intensity, and a return to basic virtues. “We don’t need a 400-page concept; we need a one-page concept,” he said, emphasizing that players simply need to train harder and more often.

Tactical Blind Spots in Youth Development

Expanding on youth training methodologies, Sammer criticized the prevailing wisdom within German academies regarding player development. He took direct aim at the common coaching mantra that dictates players should focus primarily on their existing strengths.

“Germany says: We must strengthen our strengths. That is completely wrong,” Sammer argued, pointing out that players naturally lean on their strengths during everyday play. Instead, he maintained that “weakening our weaknesses brings the biggest steps” forward.

Sammer’s specific concerns regarding technical deficiencies included a lack of progress in dribbling and one-on-one duels. Sammer also warned against blindly imitating foreign models. While nations like Spain and France have achieved success, Sammer cautioned that copying them is a flawed strategy: “The best copy is still worse than the original. We can look at other countries, but we should be confident enough to define things ourselves.”

The Hopes Posed in Per Mertesacker

Despite his harsh critique of the status quo, Sammer identified a crucial window of opportunity for structural reform. He placed immense responsibility on the shoulders of Per Mertesacker, the former national team defender who is slated to take over as the DFB’s Managing Director of Sport on January 1, 2027, succeeding Andreas Rettig.

“I am waiting longingly for Per Mertesacker,” Sammer said. Describing the 2014 World Cup winner as a commanding figure with broad shoulders, Sammer insisted that Mertesacker must take the leading role in shaping the future of the sport. “Now he must have the courage to describe it conceptually in an understandable way, and then he must defend his contents.”

Sammer acknowledged the immense institutional hurdles within the governing body, noting wryly that “desperation is included in the pay.” However, he made it clear that Mertesacker must push his agenda through ruthlessly. “He has to assert himself ruthlessly, and if he falls by the wayside, then he was the wrong man.”

Alignment With Klopp and Wolf

Sammer expressed optimism that Mertesacker’s impending leadership will complement existing personnel within the DFB hierarchy. He pointed to the new national team coach Jürgen Klopp—noted for his desire to fundamentally alter the game—and Hannes Wolf, the DFB's Director of Youth and Development, as key allies in a unified push for renewal.

With youth development requiring an individualized approach to handle the transition from junior ranks to professional football, Sammer maintained that players must demonstrate an uncompromising will to succeed. “Whoever doesn’t bring the will to assert themselves is unsuitable,” he said.

While Sammer conceded that bridging the gap between youth academies and top-flight club football remains a formidable challenge, he remains convinced that the current climate offers a chance to reset German football from the ground up.