"Grown close to the heart"

DFB extends Rudi Völler’s contract until the 2026 World Cup

Rudi Völler(Bild: APA/AFP/Ronny Hartmann)

A good two months before the men's European Championship, the German Football Association has made its first important personnel decision regarding the national team. Rudi Völler will remain DFB Sports Director beyond the home tournament in the summer. The association extended the contract with the former team boss and 1990 World Cup winner shortly before his 64th birthday until the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, as he announced on Monday.

"In the past 14 months of my work, I have realized that I have grown more and more fond of the responsible task at the DFB every day," said Völler according to the press release. "What perhaps started out as a feeling of obligation towards Germany, the association and the national team has long since developed into a personal concern."

The DFB would also like to reach an agreement on a contract extension with national coach Julian Nagelsmann before the start of the European Championship on June 14 in Munich against Scotland. The 36-year-old's contract ends after the home tournament. Völler was largely responsible for the appointment of Nagelsmann last September as Hansi Flick's successor.

"With all his experience, Rudi Völler is an important contact and advisor for me and also for the coaches and players," said DFB President Bernd Neuendorf. "He has a positive influence on the national team. (...) After the recent difficult years, there is a great deal of enthusiasm for the national team again. In addition to the outstanding work of Julian Nagelsmann and his team, this is also thanks to Rudi Völler."

Task force and emergency solution
Völler has been DFB Sports Director since February 1, 2023. After the preliminary round exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the DFB parted ways with national team director Oliver Bierhoff and initially set up a task force that included Völler. He was then appointed Director of the men's national team as an emergency solution. Völler was initially sports director and then sports managing director at Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen for many years. He retired from management in mid-2022.

As a successful national player and team manager of the national team from 2000 to 2004, Völler was also active for the DFB. After parting ways with Flick, he was also in charge of the DFB team again last September as interim team manager in the 2-1 international win over France.

"As director of the senior national team, I would like to use my experience to play my part in ensuring that Germany's most important soccer team is successful again, but also beyond the home European Championship this summer," said Völler.