After early World Cup exit, Oliver Bierhoff steps down as Germany’s sporting director

Oliver Bierhoff, the director of Germany’s national teams and academy, has resigned from all positions with immediate effect.

Bierhoff, the Euro 1996 winner with Germany and former AC Milan striker, had been working for the German FA since 2004, when he became national team manager alongside head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

“I’ve told German FA president Bernd Neuendorf of my decision today,” the 54-year-old wrote in a personal statement.

“I’m clearing the path for setting a new course.”

During Bierhoff’s time in charge, Germany’s men’s team won the World Cup in 2014, the 2017 Confederations Cup, reached the final of Euro 2008 and three more semi-finals in major competitions.

He was also instrumental in building the €150m DFB Academy, the German FA’s new centre for coaching in Frankfurt.

“I’m convinced it will play a vital role in the development of German football. I’m happy that our national teams have found a home,” he said at



the time.

However, he had come under heavy criticism after this year’s group stage exit, a third consecutive disappointing tournament.

“My work was founded upon the conviction of doing my best for the German FA and the national teams. But that only makes the results of the men’s national team at the World Cups in Russia and Qatar more painful. That’s why I’m not leaving without the necessary self-criticism.

“We didn’t manage to repeat previous successes and to give supporters reason to cheer in the last four years. Some decisions we had been convinced of turned out wrong. No one regrets that more than me. I take responsibility for that.”

Germany suffered a shock 2-1 defeat by Japan in their opening game and could only draw with Spain in their next match.

They then fought back to beat Costa Rica in their final match of the tournament only to crash out on goal difference.

It is Germany’s second successive exit at the group stage of a World Cup.