DFB President Bernd Neuendorf took an opportunity to write an open letter to the German ‘football family’. In his holiday greeting, he looks to the upcoming tasks for 2023 with optimism and confidence.
Dear football friends,
When we reorganized the DFB around ten months ago, one of my first and most urgent goals as DFB President was to create a new sense of togetherness in German football. After all, the previous months had been dominated by headlines that painted more of a picture of permanent competition in German football. There is only one football, from the base to the top, which is mutually dependent and which benefits from one another. The new, constructive and trusting cooperation that has developed since March is not only reflected in the fact that there have been no headlines and indiscretions since then. Rather, it is revealed above all at the moment when we have to join forces within the football family in order to make forward-looking decisions. professionals and amateurs,
Immediately after our national team left the World Cup in Qatar much too early , Hans-Joachim Watzke , 1st Vice President DFL, and I had a lot of conversations. Because the year after next we will be hosting the European Championships . Then we want to send a young, inspiring and hopefully successful team into the tournament, behind which the whole of Germany will gather again, as our national coach announced. I am very happy that Hansi Flicktogether with his team of coaches, continues on the path of the national team to the European Championships at home. We are absolutely convinced of his management style, his vision of football, his passion and positive energy for a successful European Championship.
The fact that Oliver Bierhoff left as managing director of the national teams and academy after the World Cup, that he took on responsibility the moment he left the club, is a testament to his greatness. In 18 years in the service of the DFB, Oliver Bierhoff has had outstanding success. He has shaped the DFB, and not only with his bold vision of a German football academy, the DFB campus . We are very grateful to him that this vision has now become reality.
Like Oliver Bierhoff, the outstanding personalities who now help us with the reorganization of the national team discussed in two working groups, achieved great things for German football. I am very proud that we were able to win her for the DFB with her wealth of experience, her competence and her football expertise. We didn’t have to convince them to work with us. Rather, they are passionate about this task. This also shows the togetherness in German football. With all understanding for quick solutions and answers, we will approach the tasks before us seriously and in a structured manner. Self-critical and open-minded, but full of motivation and confidence. Because with EURO 2024 we have a great opportunity in mind – which we must not miss. From the experience of the World Cup in Qatar we will draw the right and necessary conclusions together.
Full of anticipation, we not only look forward to the home European Championship 2024, but also to the next big tournament that is coming up. Our women’s national team thrilled an entire country with their triumphant march through to the final of the European Championships in the summer. And I’m sure that the team of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg can also play for the title at the World Cup next year in New Zealand and Australia.
Our national team set new attendance records at the EURO. At the final in Wembley, she attracted almost 20 million people in Germany in front of the television sets. And she has a new enthusiasm for the FLYERALARM Women’s Bundesliga taken care of, which attracts more people to the stadiums than ever before. It’s great that women’s top flight is finally getting the attention it deserves and generating new revenue that will continue to professionalize the work going forward.
I wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!
Yours sincerely, Bernd Neuendorf
DFB President
