GERMANY have sacked coach Hansi Flick just nine months from hosting Euro 2024 after Saturday’s humiliating 4-1 defeat by Japan, the German FA (DFB) announced on Sunday.
Flick became the first and only Germany head coach to be sacked since the position was created in 1926.
Sporting director Rudi Voeller, who coached the side to a 2002 World Cup final against Brazil, will take over on an interim basis, with a successor to be announced at a later date.
German FA boss Bernd Neuendorf said the sacking was “unavoidable” after the team’s recent run of “disappointing” results.
In a statement, Neuendorf said “with a view towards the European championships in our own country, we need a spirit of optimism and confidence”, saying the decision was one of his “most difficult so far.”
The Germans were thoroughly outclassed by the Samurai Blue on home soil in the friendly in Wolfsburg, with only some acrobatic ‘keeping from Marc-Andre ter Stegen preventing the score from eclipsing 2001’s 5-1 loss to England in Munich.
Germany have now lost four of their six matches since their early exit from the World Cup in December.
Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany in June 2024.
The home fans booed the German team at half-time, with some chanting “Hansi out” at the end of the match.
Germany have been historically reluctant to make drastic changes to the coaching position, with none of Flick’s predecessors sacked.
Appointed in May 2021 after Joachim Loew’s 15-year tenure ended, Flick was Germany’s 10th head coach since World War II.
Fresh off taking Bayern Munich to seven trophies in just 18 months in charge, Flick was victorious in his first eight matches as Germany boss.
