Despite once having different views, Rudi Völler wants to work constructively with the new DFB managing director Andreas Rettig and expects this attitude from his new superior.
“In the past, Andreas Rettig and I have had one or two differences of opinion when it comes to fundamental football issues. However, in a responsible position at the DFB, it is important to adapt personal beliefs to realities and to subordinate them to the benefit of German football as a whole. In this sense “We will work well together,” said Völler during Rettig’s presentation to the German Football Association.
DFL boss Hans-Joachim Watzke reported a personal conversation with Rettig before his appointment in order to resolve possible differences. He then signaled his approval of the personnel to DFB President Bernd Neuendorf. In the past, people had “very contrary views” on some subject areas, said the managing director of Borussia Dortmund and chairman of the supervisory board of the German Football League about his relationship with Rettig.
On Friday, the DFB surprisingly appointed the 60-year-old Rettig as Oliver Bierhoff’s successor as sports director. In this role, he is also formally the superior of Völler, who took over the role of sports director for the senior national team from Bierhoff’s large portfolio of tasks after the World Cup failure in Qatar.
Rummenigge and Mintzlaff resign from the task force
Rettig’s appointment sparked controversial reactions. Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig executives Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Oliver Mintzlaff resigned as members of the DFB task force. Völler is counting on an integrative role for Rettig, who argued contrary to other top officials on many football issues.
“I have known Andreas Rettig for many years and know that he will tackle the tasks associated with his new position at the DFB with high motivation. His future work in administrative responsibility for the sporting area and in the sense of the necessary organizational streamlining of the association requires everyone’s support in the DFB. Also mine as the person responsible for the senior men’s national team and the U21 – of course always in line with our sporting objectives, which must always come first,” said Völler. Rettig will improve the conditions for all national teams of the German Football Association “as part of his area of responsibility”.
