Matthias Sammer was sporting director of the DFB from 2006 to 2012. He is currently an advisor to BVB. He ruled out a return to the association
What: pa/GES/Helge Prang
Matthias Sammer takes issue with the fact that the expertise of former professionals is not required at the head of the DFB. The BVB adviser considers it essential that ex-national players are integrated into the management structures. He has some prominent names in mind.
Dhe restructuring at the top of the German Football Association that took place a few months ago does not seem to be entirely satisfactory for Matthias Sammer. In any case, he suggested an additional model – and expressed great incomprehension. He couldn’t understand, said the long years as DFB sports director active Sammer, why not finally implement the expertise of former professionals in the management team. “It annoys me tremendously that you don’t fall back on this expertise,” said the Borussia Dortmund advisor to “Kicker”.
First and foremost, he would like former national players to have a greater influence on the association’s decision-making bodies. “What about Michael Ballack, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger? These are all people who don’t have to become president of the DFB, but why not create a position as vice-president to get expression, face and attitude,” said the 54-year-old.
At least Lahm already has an office with the DFB. He is already managing director of the home European Championship in 2024. However, Celia Sasic is currently the only member of the 15-strong executive committee, and there is no former national player among them. From Sammer’s point of view, that would be essential.
“Völler might insult me now”
Record international player Lothar Matthäus or the former DFB team boss Rudi Völler would also be candidates for an important function in the association from Sammer’s point of view. “I’m delighted that Lothar Matthäus’ analysis is fantastic. But wouldn’t he be more important in a position with the DFB? Rudi Völler has now stopped and could do that, even if he might call and insult me now,” said the 1996 European champion.
According to Sammer, the association is “about vanity, about positions, less about competence”. The new president Bernd Neuendorf or his deputy and BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke are “good people, but I would like to have someone there who knows from practice how it works and smells it, who himself is world champion or champions league winner was”.
National coach Hansi Flick would also advise Sammer, in addition to national team manager Oliver Bierhoff, to have “further experience in the form of ex-professionals”: “Anyone who closes himself to that must be rich in knowledge.”
Sammer, who is currently a consultant at Borussia Dortmund, ruled out returning to the DFB, for which he worked as sports director from 2006 to 2012. “I brought my proof. I was in the association for more than six years, so others can do it,” he said.
