It is official: Joachim Low will be stepping down as the coach of the German national team after Euro 2020. After months of speculation, the DFB confirmed that their tactician will bring an end to his reign after overseeing die Mannschaft for one last major tournament.
The 61-year-old, who initially began as Jurgen Klinsmann's assistant manager, took over the national team in 2006, leading them to the 2014 FIFA World Cup title as well as finishing as runners-up in the 2008 European Championship and making the semi-finals in the 2012 and 2016 editions.
However, things have taken a turn for the worse as of late, starting off with their embarrassing 2018 FIFA World Cup group stage exit, the first in their history, despite being the defending champions. Since then, die Mannschaft have participated in two UEFA Nations League tournaments and have performed horribly, though to varying degrees, failing to make it past the group stage on both occasions.
Being under contract until 2022 and having received backing from the German FA, many speculated Low would step down after the Qatar World Cup but the Low has opted not to see out his deal. Despite this, the 61-year-old manager stressed that he is focused on the upcoming European Championship and is determined to end his reign with a trophy.
"I'm absolutely sure about taking this step and do so full of pride and with immense gratitude, but at the same time still with great motivation as far as the upcoming European Championship tournament is concerned," Low said, as per an official statement on the German FA's website.
"Proud because it is something very special and an honour for me to be involved in my country and because I have been able to work with the best footballers in the country for almost 17 years and support them in their development.
"I have great triumphs with them and painful defeats, but above all many wonderful and magical moments - not just winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
"I am and will remain grateful to the DFB, which has always provided me and the team with an ideal working environment."
Germany are in for a tough ride this summer, with the 2014 World Cup champions set to face Portugal, France, and Hungary in Group F. Despite this, Low is ready and excited for this tricky challenge, adding: "I still feel the unconditional will as well as great energy and ambition for the upcoming European Championship.
"I will do my best to make our fans happy and successful at this tournament. I also know that this applies to the entire team."
DFB president Fritz Keller and director of the national teams and academy Oliver Bierhoff hailed Low and commemorated him for the amazing contribution he has done for the German national team. Bierhoff also thanked the outgoing manager for the manner in which he is making his departure as it gives the DFB "the necessary time, calmly and a sense of proportion to name his successor".
A successor has not and will likely not be named in the near future but one man being linked with the job is Jurgen Klopp. A recent report by BILD claimed that the Liverpool boss could opt to leave Merseyside in order to replace Joachim given the struggles that have erupted at Anfield.
