Former Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick takes over Germany on two-year deal

Flick will assume his duties after the European Championships and will succeed his former boss

Hansi Flick heads into his new role as Germany manager following a highly successful 18 months in charge at Bayern Munich. EPA

Hansi Flick will take over from his former boss Joachim Low as Germany manager after the European Championships after signing a two-year contract with the German Football Association (DFB) yesterday.

Flick spent eight years working as deputy to Low and was part of the setup when Germany won the 2014 World Cup. He succeeds Low as the popular choice following a short, but successful, spell at Bayern Munich.

As well as building a squad capable of challenging for the next World Cup in 2022, Flick and his squad will be expected to impress at the next European Championships, which Germany will host in 2024.

"Everything happened surprisingly quickly for me and I am happy to be national team coach from the autumn," Flick, who was the frontrunner for the post, said in a statement.

"My joy is great because I see the quality of the players, especially the young ones, in Germany. So we have every reason to approach the next tournaments, for example our home Euro 2024, with optimism."

Flick led Bayern to six trophies in the 2019/20 season before winning this season's Bundesliga crown. He initially took over as an interim coach in late 2019, but decided to leave the champions after 18 months in charge.

Low, who had a contract until 2022, led Germany to the World Cup title in 2014 and also won the 2017 Confederations Cup. But his team crashed out in the first round in the 2018 World Cup and have struggled to rediscover their highest level ever since.

Attempts to overhaul the squad by exiling experienced players such as Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels, and Jerome Boateng failed to make much of an impact. Last November, Germany were thrashed 6-0 by Spain in the Uefa Nations League. It was the worst defeat in Germany's history.

FFlick, who has a long experience at the DFB, having been assistant coach from 2006-2014 and then taking over as sports director until 2017, will be tasked with restoring Germany’s pride.

Until then, though, Flick will be a keen spectator during this summer’s Euros. “The important thing now is not what will happen in September, but the upcoming European Championships, for which I wish Low, Marcus Sorg, Andy Kopke and the team the greatest possible success,” he said. “Low has more than deserved a big end to his career as national coach.”

Oliver Bierhoff, DFB team director, said Flick was always the primary target to succeed Low. “I know the human and technical qualities of Hansi Flick and I appreciate them since our many successful years together.”

Flick will be replaced at Bayern Munich by Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann.