2014 FIFA World Cup Champion Joins Rival German Football Association (DFB)
Former German national team coach Joachim Low made waves ten years ago by recruiting Shkodran Mustafi to the German football team. Since then, the defender became a World Champion with the DFB. Now, he's bidding adieu to professional football and rejoining the DFB as a coach.
Shkodran Mustafi is Branching out from professional football into coaching. The 20-time national team player, who lifted the World Cup with the German team in Brazil in 2014, will be the co-coach of the German U17 juniors. "I've been mulling over the desire to gain coaching experience for quite some time. It's a bit sad that it's coming so early, as I would have liked to have played football for longer. On the bright side, I'm genuinely excited about the upcoming time and taking my first steps as a trainer with the DFB," Mustafi shared.
The 32-year-old will take up the position on July 1, the German Football Association disclosed. As a pro, Mustafi played for UD Levante in Spain until last year. Before that, he was also associated with Everton FC, Sampdoria Genoa, FC Valencia, Arsenal FC, and FC Schalke 04. Recently, he battled numerous hurtful injuries, eventually leading him to retire. For now, he's working as a TV commentator for the European Championship in Germany.
Initially, Mustafi still harbored the intention to keep playing. As late as mid-April, he was still making light of continuing his career: "I turn 32 this month, but I still think I'm young and spry enough, and have enough enthusiasm and drive to try again. That would be my ultimate wish," Mustafi stated at web.de.
Between May 2014 and October 2017, Mustafi played 20 international matches. During this tenure, he netted two goals. Prior to that, he went through all the youth teams from U15 to U21 and won the EM title with the U17 team in 2009.
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Shkodran Mustafi, who was part of the German national soccer team that won the World Cup in 2014, will now coach the DFB Juniors, the German U17 national soccer team. Following his retirement from professional soccer due to injuries, Mustafi expressed his enthusiasm about starting his coaching career with the DFB.
Despite his retirement from professional soccer, Shkodran Mustafi, a former defender for clubs like Arsenal FC and FC Valencia, will continue his association with football by coaching the German U17 national soccer team, known as the DFB Juniors, under the umbrella of the DFB.
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