DFL supervisory board chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke has resisted the term “full power” in view of his offices in German football. “I’ve read a lot about the power I now hold,” said Watzke in Neu-Isenburg.
“That’s a word I personally can’t do anything with, power is not a criterion for me.” He wanted to emphasize that although he held several offices, he only aspired to one of them. “That of the chairman of the supervisory board of the DFL,” said the 63-year-old.
Due to his position in the German Football League, the CEO of Borussia Dortmund is also the 1st Vice President of the German Football Association. After the separation from the previous DFL managing director Donata Hopfen, he is now taking over the position of spokesman for the DFL presidium on an interim basis, said Watzke. Hopfen’s duties will be taken over by Axel Hellmann from Eintracht Frankfurt and Oliver Leki from SC Freiburg until June 30, 2023.
Round of three with Bernd Neuendorf and Hansi Flick
Watzke was also present at the talks with DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and Hansi Flick, in which the decision was made that Flick would remain the national coach. “It’s not power at all,” said Watzke. “I work very trustingly and well together with Neuendorf,” he explained.
He also emphasizes that replacing Hansi Flick as national coach after the national team was eliminated from the preliminary round of the World Cup was not a consideration for the DFB leadership. “A separation was not at all up for discussion.” His summary of Germany’s appearance at the World Cup in Qatar: “It wasn’t all bad.”
In a round of three, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, Flick and Watzke undertook a World Cup analysis during a crisis meeting and agreed on further cooperation until the home European Championship in 2024. Watzke spoke of “a constructive conversation based on a lot of trust”.
No quick fix for Bierhoff’s successor
Watzke explained the regulation of the successor to national team director Oliver Bierhoff to the DFB task under the direction of association president Neuendorf. According to Watzke, there doesn’t have to be a quick fix, even if he would find a “solution before Christmas nice”. It remains to be seen whether the “vacuum” that Bierhoff will leave behind after his retirement will be filled by one or two people.
“In the end it’s a DFB decision,” said Watzke. The 54-year-old Bierhoff was head of the DFB academy and also director for the national teams. Fredi Bobic (51), managing director of Bundesliga club Hertha BSC, is hotly traded as his successor.
