Soccer - Nia Künzer becomes DFB sports director: "Winning titles again"
Nia Künzer once scored the golden goal to win the World Cup title - now she is set to take German women's soccer forward after the World Cup debacle in Australia. The former national team player from Wetzlar will take up the new post of sports director for women at the DFB on January 1. "We have big challenges ahead of us. It is essential for development in all areas that we get back on the road to success and win titles again," said the 43-year-old in a statement from the association on Thursday.
As has long been demanded, the women's national team will now have its own person in charge, like Rudi Völler at the German men's national team. The supervisory board and the shareholders' meeting of the German Football Association voted unanimously in favor of Künzer. "Her critical eye, her ability to bring in other perspectives, her high level of social competence and her profound soccer knowledge will help us move forward in this high-priority area for the DFB," said association president Bernd Neuendorf.
Künzer's responsibilities include the women's national team, which suffered a debacle in the preliminary round of the World Cup in the summer and recently weakened in the 0-0 draw in Wales, and the U20 team. In addition, the 34-time international at 1. FFC Frankfurt will be one of the coaches who will take over from interim national coach Horst Hrubesch, who will probably be in charge of the national team until next summer at most - if the DFB women manage to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris at the Nations League final tournament in February. The 72-year-old stepped in after the long illness of Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, whose contract has since been terminated by the association.
Künzer celebrated her greatest success as a player in 2003. In the World Cup final in Carson (USA), she scored the golden goal against Sweden with her head to make it 2:1. The mother of two and teacher most recently worked as an ARD expert and as head of the department for integration, social care and voluntary work at the Giessen regional council. "She is a strong personality, has an extensive network and has always been close to women's soccer," confirmed Neuendorf.
Künzer had already called on the association in an interview with dpa at the end of September: "It is crucial that the focus is now not only on the Olympic Games, but that strategic decisions are made on the way to the 2025 European Championship in Switzerland. This must now be addressed promptly."
As expected, Joti Chatzialexiou was not considered for the DFB Director position. The sporting director of the national teams was one of those responsible for the women's team at the 2022 European Championship, when the German women only lost to hosts England in the final, and at the preliminary round of the 2023 World Cup. He no longer has much of a lobby in the association due to the crises of the men's U21 and senior national teams.
Info on the women's national team Info on the Nations League DFB press release
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- Nia Künzer, who hails from Wetzlar in Hesse, was chosen by the DFB to lead the German women's soccer team after their disappointing performance in the World Cup in Australia.
- As the new sports director, Künzer will oversee the women's national team, which struggled in the preliminary round of the World Cup and drew 0-0 against Wales recently.
- In a statement, Künzer acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating that the team needs to regain its winning form and claim more titles.
- Künzer's role also includes managing the U20 team and collaborating with interim national coach Horst Hrubesch.
- With Künzer on board, the German Football Association (DFB) hopes to improve its standing in women's soccer, a field Rudi Völler has similarly overseen at the men's national team level.
- Australian women's soccer team might have dealt Germany a setback last year, but with Künzer's expertise and commitment to the sport, motivation is high to turn the tides and excel in future competitions.
- Bernd Neuendorf, president of the DFB, commended Künzer's critical thinking, societal competence, and deep soccer knowledge, believing these attributes would drive progress in women's soccer within the organization.
Source: www.stern.de
