Joachim Low focused on Euros despite Germany exit confirmed

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 17 May 2021 17:42 BST
• 3 min read

Joachim Low insists he remains focused on winning the European Championships with Germany this summer even though his exit from the role has already been confirmed for after the tournament.

On Tuesday, the DFB announced Low’s departure for after the tournament after a successful 15-year stint as head coach which included a World Cup win in 2014.

A statement from the football governing body in Germany read:

“Joachim Low will end his job as national coach after the European Championship in summer 2021. The national coach asked to end his contract, which originally ran until the 2022 World Cup, immediately upon completion of the European Championship tournament. The German Football Association (DFB) agreed to this.”

Joachim #Löw will step down as national team head coach after @EURO2020. pic.twitter.com/t4OuyQmaSC

— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) March 9, 2021

What has Low said?

Though Low has not provided reasoning for his decision as of yet, there has been speculation surrounding his job for a while now after some underwhelming recent performances. In the 2018 World Cup, the defending champions finished bottom of group F behind Mexico, Sweden, and the Korea Republic.

Even though he knows his time is up at the conclusion of the upcoming Euros, he remains determined to succeed with Germany in that competition before leaving.

“I am taking this step quite consciously, full of pride and with enormous gratitude, but at the same time still with an unbroken great motivation as far as the upcoming European Championship tournament is concerned,” he said on the official DFB website.

“Proud, because it is something very special and an honour for me to be involved with my country. And because I was able to work with the best footballers in the country for almost 17 years and accompany them in their development.

“I share great triumphs and painful defeats with them, but above all many wonderful and magical moments – not just winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I am and remain grateful to the DFB, which has always provided me and the team with an optimal working environment.”

Who will replace Low as Germany head coach?

Even before Low’s exit was confirmed, speculation gathered as to who his potential replacement could be, with Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp mentioned as candidates should they decide to leave their respective clubs.