The ex-Germany striker and coach is worried about the state of his nation's game and called for changes to the league and youth development methods
Jurgen Klinsmann says Germany must be on “red alert” to deal with the country’s decline in world football, suggesting they look to England for inspiration to fix it.
It has been six years since a German team won the Champions League and no Bundesliga teams are left in this season’s edition after Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Schalke were knocked out at the last-16 stage by English opposition.
The clubs’ upset comes less than a year after Germany suffered a humiliating group stage exit from the World Cup, and former Die Mannschaft star and manager Klinsmann says a “complete rethink” is needed to address the issues plaguing their game.
"We have talked about the results in European club competitions for two or three years, but now everything has become even worse,” the former Bayern and Tottenham player told Bild am Sonntag. "The national team’s results have been fatal recently. There is a red alert!
"A feeling of arrogance has crept into the German national team in 2014. We leaned back because we were the best."
While German clubs are struggling to compete, English football has been rejuvenated in recent years. Premier League sides make up half of those competing in the quarter-finals of the Champions League this term, while the national team has been boosted by the emergence of a new generation of talented players.
With players like current Bundesliga stars Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson coming through, the Three Lions are expected to have a bright long-term future, too.
And Klinsmann feels the German Football Association (DFB) must learn lessons from its English counterpart if they are to catch up.
"They first questioned everything, then looked outside the box, and then they change happened very quickly. The clubs build competitions for their youth teams.”
According to Klinsmann, the way Germany develops young players also needs to be reconsidered, while he also pushed for a change to the 50+1 rule that ensures clubs are majority-owned by supporters.
"We always think: 'the main thing [for a player] is that he can kick, everything else is unimportant'. No, it is not! Nutrition, sleep, training - all this is important.
"Of course there are positive examples in the Bundesliga too, I think of Hertha Berlin, Hoffenheim or RB Leipzig."
He added: "I understand the 50+1 rule, it stems from the old club idea, but you can only get money from investors if they are allowed to have a say in the club, which is why the rule is a disadvantage for the Bundesliga on the international stage."
Sibadkntz
1
im happy with the german talents. havertz brandt süle gnabry sané Kimmich Klostermann Arp Goretzka Schulz Arnold Halstenberg Stark Tah Kehrer pollersbeck Waldschmidt Werner Geiger Kempf J.eggestein m.eggestein dahoud Wolf Neuhaus Teuchert Ginter Mai F. Götze Arne Maier Itter Weigel.. and many more + many great players ( Kroos Draxler Gündogan Reus Rüdiger ter Stegen..) i'm very happy with the German players. only France has the same quality
Ciwkpyz
0
German glory will not return again... 😔 😔
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who said.bro.. what is the basis of your statement
kadikmrsuz
3
We should not also forget that the EPL teams are made up of more than 90% foreign players. England national team itself does not benefit much from this setup. They need to bring back the foreign players quota rule back into the epl again.
Huebdmu
2
Germany's dwindling football fortunes have absolutely got nothing to do with Joachim Ĺow, as Klinsmann has pointed out there are a number of factors. Youth development and club sponsors being one of them, Lòw selects his majority of players from the Bundesliga and a few plying their trade in other European Leagues, the strength of the Bundesliga determine how prolific the national team can be. If non of the Bundesliga teams reach the quarterfinals of UCL how do you expect Germany to win the European Nations cup or World Cup? The issue of private individuals or corporate groups investing in German football has been a thorny issue if you follow RB Leipzig who have been ridiculed and called all sorts of names for their rise in Bundesliga, it is almost like an alien team just for breaking the traditional club sponsorship owners acceptable in German but hopefully there will soon be a rethink. I love the Germany's sense of self critic and analytic mind something sooner or later will have to give way and the German team will compete with confidence and win honours.
RockyATM
1
but this man has a point,surely there must be changes made to the football world in Germany
Vipbcdikop
2
low should pack his bags & leave better coaches to take charge its true de issue sidelining young talented players z not good at all
sayantanpatra
4
German glory will not return again... 😔 😔
Dzana
1
I’ve always thought that Low only played the players with the biggest name, even if they weren’t in-form. Leroy Sane wasn’t even called up to the World Cup, despite all of his amazing feats with Manchester City. Not to mention the fact that he’s ignoring the amazing talent that Ter Stegen has displayed these past years.
I can’t agree with you more!
BeanerBoy
3
Not my fault my ass is huge 😎🗿
Vumikrsz
3
This means there is a need for a new leadership. The current coach has to pave way for new ideas, new philosophy...
Almonte17
3
I’ve always thought that Low only played the players with the biggest name, even if they weren’t in-form. Leroy Sane wasn’t even called up to the World Cup, despite all of his amazing feats with Manchester City. Not to mention the fact that he’s ignoring the amazing talent that Ter Stegen has displayed these past years.
HarithHaziq
1
Rises of English Club disaster for die man shaft
Mohindia
4
Joachem Low needs to go, it high time Germany taste another coach
VidalArturo
4
The results will keep on remaining Fatal until and unless Low replaces Manuel Neur with Marc Andre Ter Stegen