Loew signs deal to take Germany to Brazil 2014
Joachim Loew on Tuesday extended his contract with the German Football Federation (DFB) to coach Germany to the 2014 World Cup, ruling him out of the running for the Bayern Munich job.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: March 15, 2011 08:52 PM IST
Joachim Loew on Tuesday extended his contract with the German Football Federation (DFB) to coach Germany to the 2014 World Cup, ruling him out of the running for the Bayern Munich job.
Loew, Germany coach since 2006, had a contract until just after the Euro 2012 tournament, to be held in the Ukraine and Poland, but after reports he wanted to stay on until 2014, the DFB moved quickly to sign up the 51-year-old.
It means the team of Loew, assistant coach Hansi Flick, goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke and team manager Oliver Bierhoff will take Germany to the Brazil tournament.
With Bayern Munich set to part ways with coach Louis van Gaal at the end of the season, Loew has removed himself as a potential replacement and said he is focused on Germany with his team top of their Euro 2012 qualifying group.
"I am pleased that we were able to agree quickly to a continuation of our co-operation up to the 2014 World Cup," said Loew at the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt.
"We believe in the quality of our players and see good prospects for our team.
"So we were pleased to accept the offer from the DFB's senior management to sign an extension early."
Loew admitted he was surprised at the speed of negotiations.
"It demonstrates the relationship of trust that the negotiations will be closed in the next few days," he said.
Loew said he had wanted to make sure the contract extension was formalised long before the end of Euro 2012 -- which culminates in the final in Kiev on July 1, 2012 -- and avoid the previous negotiation problems last seen in February 2010.
Loew and the DFB failed to agree terms at the beginning of last year, when his contract was last under renewal, and a deal was only done after the World Cup last July, as Germany came third.
"Joachim Loew and his team have left their mark on the team in recent years," said DFB president Theo Zwanziger. "The smooth contract talks have once again shown clearly how great the mutual trust is.
"These respectful, open dealings with each other is the best way to ensure the successful co-operation of the past will continue to work in the future."
Loew has said he would not consider carrying out his national team coach role alongside the the soon-to-be vacant Bayern job.
"No, that is out of the question for me," he said.
"It is possible, as Guus Hiddink showed by coaching both Chelsea and Russia's national team for some time. But in our country, it doesn't work.
"The DFB job alongside coaching Bayern, Dortmund or Bremen, that just wouldn't be possible. That would conflict with the interests of the league.
"I can never allow myself to be accused of bias for a player of a certain club."