Jurgen Klopp FULL press conference as he is announced as new Germany head coach

[0:00] Now let's listen to what he says, and how are you going to tackle your mission? [0:07] Well, the thing is, while the press conference was scheduled to take place today, [0:18] I really trusted in the decision-making bodies to approve my appointment. [0:26] I mean, it is a great honour for me to be here. [0:36] Over the last few days, it was almost like a movie happening to myself. [0:43] You know, there's a million thoughts running through your head. [0:47] Where am I coming from? What am I going to do? [0:51] And I've always surmised that the job of Germany head coach is something big, [0:58] but now it's really dawning on me what being national team head coach is all about. [1:07] So if you look at where I'm coming from, it was really for many, many years, [1:13] it was unimaginable for me to assume this position. [1:16] I mean, as the years went by, it became more or less evident that sooner or later I would be asked to do this job. [1:27] But then the very thought disappeared. [1:31] But now I think the time is right, and I'm grateful to all parties concerned. [1:36] And they approached me, we've had very reasonable talks, [1:41] and I'm absolutely happy that we've put this behind us. [1:46] And ideally, it is a path that we will all go together. [1:57] And we need you as the media. [2:05] So we all sit in the same boat, don't we? [2:10] And there's a mission to be fulfilled, there's a mission to be accomplished. [2:17] While I was in the football community, I haven't really been very active in terms of media contact. [2:26] Not that I've missed it, dot, dot, dot. [2:30] Obviously, now's the time where I am really in the middle of media focus. [2:40] And I was surprised, not negatively or positively surprised, just surprised how quickly news spread. [2:49] And it's sometimes hard for people to think, well, let's just turn a blind eye to things, [3:02] and not divulge any information precociously. [3:10] Sometimes that is the right thing to do, and not publish stuff that hasn't really happened. [3:16] I'm 59 years old now. [3:22] I have always had my partners, co-coaches, co-assistants. [3:36] And Per Mertes-Ocker, the job is not going to be about the men's senior national team alone. [3:42] And the same can be said for me. I know full well that this is job number one. [3:48] It is my mission to make the national team squad a better team, [3:54] and I hope that the pool for me to choose from will be bigger. [3:59] But it is not something that I will do against you, but I'm doing it for you. [4:04] It is an honour. I will be remunerated very graciously. [4:10] And if tomorrow Jürgen Klopp is SHRT, then I'll be gone. [4:16] But if the DFB says that, come on, let us discontinue the job, then that's it. [4:22] And if you behave badly and don't let my family in peace, I'll be gone. I'll just turn away. [4:38] I mean, I know that there are other countries where national team head coaches are treated even worse. [4:44] But I am always – I mean, I love this job, but I'm always ready to just call it quits if need be. [4:54] So all I'm there for is the issue. [5:00] Jürgen Klopp is not going to have any career, in inverted commas, after the national team. [5:06] This is the pinnacle, the absolute high point of my footballing career as coach. [5:12] I will give everything I've got, and I have, for me, from my point of view, [5:21] I have the best possible assistant coaching team. [5:25] Bernd has almost completely enumerated them. [5:30] Well, let me just explain who I mean. [5:35] Pepijn Leinders, with whom I have cooperated for a long time at Liverpool Football Club. [5:43] And he, too, is a fantastic coach and is dying to do this job. [5:48] Peter Kravitz, I've known him for almost 30 years now. [5:51] He has my full confidence. [5:53] And over and above that, he has a super quality. [5:57] I have never hired a friend. [6:01] I mean, I have many, many friends, but almost none of them works for me. [6:04] But some people working with me become friends. [6:10] Sven Bender, I've taken on board for various reasons. [6:20] And I've already explained, you know, that I've met the supervisory board people. [6:26] I read that he would quit from Unterhaching. [6:36] He is in the fourth division. [6:40] He was a national team player in his active days. [6:44] I mean, not with super many caps. [6:49] Seven, to be precise. [6:51] And there will also be Mark Kosike, whom you know as my personal advisor and manager. [7:07] And he is my assistant coach for strategy and innovation. [7:18] Many people said, you know, that changing a face at the German national team is not enough. [7:28] I mean, it's not just about one person. [7:32] We have to play better football. [7:34] I mean, that's the goal number one. [7:37] But many other things need to change. [7:40] And that is exactly what you need additional people for. [7:44] We want to leave no stone unturned here at the DFB. [7:49] If there is anything that needs to be adapted, changed or deleted, [7:53] then I would do exactly that. [7:56] So my main mission is to help the national team, to assist progress. [8:02] And if that happens, then we're going to do exactly that. [8:07] So it's all about jointly working to lead the DFB into the future. [8:13] I mean, there are many areas that we can copy the French or the Italians or the Spanish or the English. [8:23] We can do this. [8:25] But ideally, all these nations will in a few years' time turn around and say, [8:30] look how the DFB has done. [8:32] That's exactly how we've got to do it. [8:34] So this is the moment where you have to check very diligently and precisely what needs to change, [8:46] what needs to be intensified. [8:48] Yes, play better football, okay, that's one thing. [8:51] But at the end of the day, you have to invest more and look at all surrounding aspects. [9:04] And maybe change things that will influence the football of the future. [9:08] I mean, look at this World Cup. [9:11] I've had a few weeks' time and I've made a list of names that I would like to know more about. [9:19] I see players, managers, and I have a list of 57 players. [9:31] Sometimes if you look at the national team squad, the populist notion is, [9:38] well, we haven't got any good players anymore. [9:40] We need a Haaland, we need an Mbappé. [9:45] I mean, the complete development of German national team football has gone downhill. [9:59] But that's not how you should look at it. [10:02] Yes, there are a few things that need improving. [10:06] But we, as a team, will represent a package. [10:13] I have never been a coach who just goes through the motions, [10:18] you know, puts players through their paces and then drives home. [10:23] That was never my style. [10:26] I've always felt responsible to be a representative of the club, [10:32] in this case of the association, to be there for everybody and everything. [10:41] So I would like to embrace all of you, the fans, the public, [10:47] you know, the football community at large. [10:50] And I would like to make all of them happy and not take myself too seriously. [10:55] So I think the older ones among you know that I am anything but perfect. [11:04] Sometimes I want to give stupid answers to stupid questions. [11:09] But I would like to embrace everybody. [11:13] Everybody is super cordially invited to join us in this mission. [11:18] I mean, we have a few weeks' time before the next FIFA international match window. [11:28] That is, I think, hopefully sufficient time for me to prepare. [11:32] But we're all ready to go, raring to go in fact. [11:36] And if there are any more questions, I'm quite happy to open the floor. [11:45] Well, I haven't really dared ask whether there are any questions, but fire away. [11:50] Gunther Klein here in the middle. [11:53] Jürgen, you are the 13th Germany head coach. [12:04] Who do you have, you know, as a kind of role model? [12:09] And how is your everyday job going to look like? [12:13] Will you be here working from an office here at the campus? [12:17] Or will you be also travelling to watch games abroad, you know, because they play for, say, Spain or, you know, at the Spanish clubs or the Premier League? [12:29] Well, truth be told, I haven't really thought about a role model. [12:36] From what I know is that Helmut Schön has also lived in Wiesbaden. [12:43] Franz Beckenbauer, I absolutely loved him for everything that I've done. [12:47] Rudi Völler is definitely someone I need to include. [12:52] Well, first of all, I think the number 13 is surprisingly small. [12:58] So, with 125 years of history, or 126 years to be precise, only 13 head coaches is a very, very small number. [13:08] So, let me give time to think who could be my role model, who has developed his team the best. [13:20] So, just give me a little time. [13:23] So, as far as my everyday work is concerned, I don't really know, to be brutally honest, what I'm supposed to be doing. [13:30] I'm quite happy for things not to begin tomorrow. [13:33] I will be absolutely overtasked and out of my depth. [13:36] I mean, there are plenty of offices. [13:40] My place of residence is near here. [13:43] Wiesbaden is just a 30-minute drive away from Frankfurt. [13:48] I will definitely observe games and go to matches, especially in those countries where our national team players win their daily bread. [13:57] I mean, as far as matches are concerned, I've watched an awful lot of games over the last few weeks. [14:07] And it's always great to be in personal contact with players. [14:16] I don't ever watch a game focusing on one player alone, or two or three. [14:22] But what I will be doing is, you know, get into contact with players, meet them in the flesh and transmit my ideas. [14:34] So, that is my first and foremost task. [14:38] If I can meet them here in my office, in my yet-to-be-created office, fine. [14:44] But if it means for me to travel abroad, so be it. [14:49] So, that is all I can say about what my daily work is going to look like. [14:59] I've always tried to do more than absolutely necessary. [15:04] So, I will just try and do everything right. [15:10] Mr. Klopp, you just mentioned your predecessor, Julian Nagelsmann. [15:24] You're coming from a very special situation as a TV pundit at the World Cup, [15:30] where you were asked to rate your predecessor's work. [15:35] Has there been any exchange? Have you met him? [15:38] Have you, you know, done a kind of World Cup post-mortem? [15:42] No, there hasn't been. We haven't had any exchange. [15:52] Julian Nagelsmann was, I think, 39 yesterday, so happy birthday. [16:06] So, when I said that Jürgen Nagelsmann is still doing the team, [16:12] but still, that was just a joke. [16:16] It was, in retrospect, one of the worst funny, inverted commas, remarks that I've ever made. [16:23] And I feel awfully sorry. [16:25] I've, you know, apologized a million times. [16:29] It was just a rash thing to say with no ulterior motives whatsoever. [16:34] And I can only wish him the best. [16:40] And I think now that the chapter national team is closed for him, [16:44] he can go on to pass his new... [16:47] And I am absolutely sure that he will have many, many opportunities to coach a big team in the future. [16:56] We've already discussed the different terms and conditions for a national team as opposed to club football. [17:06] Will you also teach club football matters to your national team players? [17:11] He says, hesitatingly. [17:19] I mean, if we've looked, if we've watched World Cup matches, [17:30] I mean, it could have been a bit more intense. [17:36] Let's put it this way. [17:39] I think what we need to achieve is more intensity, more work, harder work, more running, more dedication. [17:49] Counter pressing is a key issue, has always been a key issue for me. [17:54] A good team organization and a very clear match plan. [17:59] So you have to make that recognizable. [18:02] I mean, at the German national team, we will not man-mark anybody. [18:08] The funny thing is that some of the best teams do play man-marking system. [18:18] So at the World Cup, what I see is that the back four has won, in inverted commas. [18:26] So any teams that will actively approach a game, [18:32] and teams that were able to win the tournament played with a back four, [18:38] that's what I'm going to do. [18:40] We will also play with wingers. [18:46] Every team is able to narrow the pitch, [18:49] so the only possibility is to make the play wide [18:52] and use your wingers to the best of your abilities. [18:56] So that's how it's going to work. [18:59] Players will be given an opportunity to shine, [19:02] who maybe haven't heard about the national team at all, [19:07] and they will be given their first caps. [19:10] So what I'm really looking forward to is working together with young players, [19:17] or players generally speaking, [19:19] that play a football that everybody loves. [19:24] And that doesn't necessarily mean immediately successful, [19:29] but even with the German national team, I want to create a situation [19:33] where spectators go home after the game and say, [19:37] wow, that was cool. [19:45] And for us to achieve that, you need a few things. [19:49] So, I mean, Jürgen Klopp doesn't automatically mean, [19:55] wow, Jürgen Klopp is in the job now and we're going to be world champions. [19:59] No. [20:00] I mean, success is performance versus expectations. [20:10] I mean, I think we need a new set of expectations. [20:15] Many people have asked themselves, are we as good as France? [20:20] And if the answer is no, then that is not necessarily true. [20:25] If the answer is, do we have players like Dembélé, Bacola, Dembélé, Mbappé, [20:32] do we have those players at the same number? [20:35] Then the answer is, no, we don't. [20:37] But we can still beat them. [20:39] So we don't want to play like Argentina, like Spain, like England, [20:44] or like France. [20:46] We want to play like Germany, do it the German way, [20:49] but very intense. [20:51] Are we number one team at the moment? [20:53] No, we aren't. [20:55] I readily accept that. [20:57] And so, would we be happy to be number two team? [21:03] And then people will say, yeah, we're number two, [21:05] why are we not number one? [21:07] I think at the moment we have 11 teams ahead of us. [21:12] And yes, we can beat them, we can beat them. [21:16] But for this to happen, you need to play very good football. [21:20] You need to play intense football. [21:22] I haven't really watched very many games that are not part of a major tournament. [21:38] I mean, we want people to watch the national team play. [21:43] We want people to say, wow, it was worthwhile putting the TV on for 90 minutes [21:49] and saw and seen Germany play. [21:52] I mean, I've lived and experienced how football can change a city. [21:58] And I think it's not just about cities, it's all about the country. [22:03] Football can change a country, ideally. [22:06] So, we can create a better team spirit, a better mood. [22:12] But we also need a certain degree of patience. [22:20] So, when we play on the 24th of September away to the Netherlands, [22:26] I will have met them for four days. [22:31] So, that's a very short space of time. [22:35] And I'm afraid you will ask me, [22:44] well, are you ready with the progress achieved so far? [22:47] Then I will turn around and say, well, yes, kind of. [22:51] But the players have to show me, not just say it, [22:56] but show me that playing for Germany is a super special thing [23:00] and I will give everything I've got. [23:02] I mean, your task as the media is trying to understand what I say. [23:14] If I talk nonsense, then I talk nonsense. [23:19] But I would really ask you, I implore you to try and understand what I say. [23:25] If I talk to a player, but I haven't talked to player B, [23:30] then you will call him and say, why hasn't he not talked to you? [23:34] It is impossible to do justice to everybody right from the world go. [23:41] I don't really know. [23:45] So, if I close my eyes for just a few seconds and try and imagine [23:49] that Germany are world champions in four years' time, [23:53] then it feels great because I have the power of imagination. [23:59] But if all we do the same thing at the same time, [24:03] then the neighbour that you hate will no longer be such an asshole in inverted commas. [24:12] So, it's a kind of self-hypnosis. [24:18] I mean, of course, it is not an automatic thing for Germany to become world champions in four years' time. [24:27] I mean, there are so many imponderables. [24:29] You know, the ball hits the crossbar, doesn't cross the line, hits the post. [24:33] I mean, there are so many other important things like football. [24:37] At the World Cup, football is everything that counts. [24:47] I mean, here a team is eliminated from the World Cup. [24:52] Here in Germany, for example, there is no need for people to worry, [24:56] are they going to be safely home? [24:58] So, I am really raring to go. [25:01] Well, I have a feeling that you have missed press conferences in Hawaii, haven't you? [25:15] Jürgen, you said that some players may not even know that sooner or later [25:18] they will be invited and called up. [25:21] Let us talk about the position of right-back. [25:24] Jos Loos Kimmich plays. [25:27] Have you got an idea of whether he will stay in that position? [25:32] Or if not, if you talked about wingers, who would be your preferred wingers? [25:37] Well, first of all, I need to actually meet them and get to know them. [25:48] There is absolutely no way for me to say that I will never ever again put Jos Loos Kimmich as right-back. [25:55] I need players who want to give their all. [25:59] And the minute they put on that Germany shirt that they play even better. [26:05] I have never worn the national team shirt. [26:10] And we changed shirts after one friendly game and we had to re-change them back because there were only one set. [26:22] So, I absolutely understand players with a hundred and caps. [26:34] Once I was at the other side. [26:37] I used to not like international matches because that meant players were away from my club team. [26:45] And if somebody says, well, you can't call him up because he's done four matches in a row and he has tired legs. [26:56] And I say, fine, I will say fine. [26:58] I will not fight tooth and nail to be able to call up that player. [27:03] I will listen to the club coach. [27:05] And if somebody is injured, I mean, that is going to be my task. [27:10] Think about the best possible squad to call up. [27:14] I mean, I have so many ideas and I would only confound you if I explain them all now. [27:20] So, everybody is legally entitled to play for the national team. [27:31] Should really try hard in order to actually make it. [27:35] My door will always be open. [27:38] I mean, I will not say anything today. [27:45] I will not call anybody up today. [27:48] Neither will I write off anybody today. [27:51] Why should I? [27:53] So, what we need is players who are dying to play for Germany and will perform to the best of their abilities. [28:03] That's all we want at this stage. [28:06] But can I still ask about Kimmich? [28:13] Is he going to be right back from now on again? [28:16] Well, let me just keep this option open. [28:27] I don't want to commit myself too early. [28:31] What I can say is that yes, Germany will have a right back. [28:37] Fans and the national team is a relationship that has kind of suffered over the last 14 years. [28:51] But that doesn't have necessarily to do with results, but with the way the national team has presented themselves. [28:59] Some people say that the German national team doesn't matter to me at all. [29:02] Some people say that they have, you know, lost contact to, you know, the simple men on the street. [29:09] What can you do for the relationship between fans and the national team to become better, closer, more cordial? [29:18] Well, I think the force of football is all about bringing people together. [29:32] I mean, that's an old cliché, I know that. [29:36] But I've just come back from the World Cup, [29:39] and if I look at it, I think this position is the best, you know, added training measure that I could ever fulfil. [29:50] I mean, I really needed to watch games. [29:55] And what I can say is that the atmosphere in the stadion was incredible. [30:02] And if the performances on the pitch weren't really as good as people thought, [30:08] then the mood in the stadium was just mediocre. [30:11] But generally speaking, I mean, I know perfectly well that not everybody in the US was aware that there was a World Cup going on. [30:21] I know this. [30:22] But why should people be interested in everything under the sun? [30:26] You just have to take it in your stride. [30:29] So look at the games. [30:32] There was absolutely no reproach. [30:35] This World Cup was taking place in an excellent and first-rate atmosphere. [30:41] And football has presented itself in the best possible way. [30:44] There were many nations, Colombians, Mexicans. [30:49] Mexicans alone were absolutely incredible. [30:52] So we are living in different times and difficult times. [30:58] So football, I think, has to grasp that opportunity. [31:04] And football has the force to make people's lives just a little bit better, to unite people. [31:11] That's a chance that we have to grasp, take the bull by the horns and do everything we can. [31:21] So, I think, if you see the German national team and have looked at the individual names, I think the 26 players called up were actually quite good. [31:40] We have plenty of talent available. [31:43] And each and every player was absolutely okay. [31:48] I mean, we are under-17 world champions. [31:51] I mean, all of a sudden, now with Germany having won the under-17 world champions title, they are 20-21 now. [32:07] So those players are out there, available, waiting to be called up. [32:12] In German football, I think the general thought, the general argument should be, how are we going to make our youth teams play? [32:26] Shall we make them play to become world champions in about three, four, six years' time? [32:33] So Germany is full of talent. [32:36] The minute more people and more players are available, then the people at home will come back. [32:51] I mean, the level of expectation here in Germany is enormous. [32:56] And Julian probably said, and I didn't see that word at that press conference, [33:02] but Julian Nagelsmann said, we want to be world champions. [33:07] And had he said, well, we're going to be through to the quarter-finals, [33:12] I mean, all hell would have broken loose. [33:16] Because they would have said, oh, he's underestimating himself, he's underestimating his team. [33:25] The thing is, we need time, we need patience and time. [33:31] People, for their own little things, give themselves time. [33:35] And they say, oh, you know, I think it over and then I go to the task. [33:39] But outside, generally speaking, people expect everything to happen right now, [33:47] without just a single minute of a break or thinking things over. [33:54] But at least I'll do the best, best and best. [33:57] That's what I can say. [34:00] Matthias Ersch. [34:03] Is the Schnurrbart again coming? [34:05] Well, obviously, people are wearing statues these days. [34:11] You've already talked about patience. [34:16] In between international games, there will be precious little time. [34:20] And what about your patience then? [34:22] Mark Kozicke, Per Mertesacker, the names have already been named. [34:26] How deep will you go in terms of DFB structures? [34:30] Because you know Hannes Wolf, don't you? [34:33] Number one was patience. [34:40] You used to be a full-blooded coach as a club coach. [34:49] I don't know, it's a discussion that people love having. [34:55] You know, the eternal difference between club coach and national team coach. [35:03] I mean, I've been on pitches for so many days. [35:07] And I think being having close contact to a team [35:13] is not necessarily about working with them day in, day out. [35:18] So, I will have, in some days, it's just going to be 30 minutes, 50 minutes or an hour. [35:30] And that will be on the pitch. [35:32] But as far as the national team is concerned, [35:35] I think all of them have a mobile. [35:37] And I will talk to them, listen to them, watch games and give them my feedback. [35:45] That too is part of my contract. [35:47] That too is development, developing players and making players better. [35:52] I mean, Luis de la Fuente has been working with them for the last 20 years. [35:59] I mean, that of course is an amazing achievement. [36:08] I mean, the actual work on the pitch is something that you can't change. [36:15] Of course, it will be much, much less than with the club. [36:20] But I don't think that I'll be missing it too much. [36:24] So, I will not... I haven't prepared 800 training sessions, [36:29] and I will go and tick them off as the weeks go by or months go by. [36:36] And I will talk to players a lot. [36:43] What was the second part of the question again? [36:49] How deep you will change structures. [36:53] Oh, very, very deep. [36:55] Anybody who appoints Jürgen in whatever kind of office or position, [37:04] then he knows what he's going to get. [37:07] What you see is what you get. [37:09] It's the old principle. [37:10] I mean, the national team head coach has a firm parking spot. [37:18] Am I going to get a parking spot? [37:20] Well, great. [37:21] So, that car parking space will be occupied for good stretches of time. [37:32] I mean, I've followed these, you know, discussions over time. [37:39] I've observed it. [37:40] And many times, you know, head coaches were accused of not going to games. [37:49] And in other countries, you know, extremely successful coaches didn't even know that they had an under-21 team. [37:58] I'm not talking about Germany here, other nations. [38:05] So, at the Super Cup, Bayern against Dortmund. [38:10] I mean, Bayern don't need to fear that I will only ever invite Dortmund players from now on, [38:20] simply because Aki Watzke and Sven Bender are part of my team. [38:25] Or that I would only ever call up Leipzig players. [38:30] Nonsense. [38:32] So, I really want to make things better. [38:42] I would like to portray the German national team, even without the World Cup title, in the best possible light. [38:49] So, as you can see, I really love to go. [38:52] But it's only in two months' time we will play. [38:55] And at Holland, so I will probably meet many of my ex-players. [39:01] So, I will use the time, support everybody to make the best possible decisions. [39:08] That's what my job is all about. [39:11] Enable people to make good decisions. [39:14] So, I believe 100% in what Bernd Neuendorf and Aki Watzke are doing. [39:23] So, you know, beginning to work for change. [39:28] That's what my first few days are all going to be about. [39:31] The international match window now has four matches in a row. [39:42] Is that good or bad? What do you think? [39:46] And how are you going to approach those games? [39:49] So, there will be a kind of balancing act between quick success and Euro 28 in a region where you're just coming from. [40:01] Well, as a club coach, a position that I've had in my earlier life. [40:11] And when the Nations League was introduced, I thought, oh my God, who hit on that idea? [40:18] There will be zero time for friendlies anymore. [40:24] Yes, there is a balancing act between development on the one hand and performance on the other. [40:33] I mean, we're not going to be indulging in a wild kind of casting. [40:40] Germany's next football star, if that is what it's all about, then fair enough. [40:49] So, I will see what players are best. [40:53] The thing is that four games in a row is a very short time. [41:00] So, there will be solutions. [41:03] I have a few ideas that are floating around in my head, but they are not ready for print yet. [41:10] So, we will not use 11 people and just whip them through all four. [41:16] I mean, obviously, there will be a very broad squad, you know, [41:25] where we're going to meet Greece here at home, meet Serbia at home, [41:29] and play away to the Netherlands and Greece. [41:37] So, the players that I have observed, I met them on YouTube. [41:46] So, the important thing is for me to be logged into a season. [41:50] I've listened, I've worked in England for nine years, [41:56] and when I went away, some of the players were playing under-16 football. [42:03] So, while I've watched a bit of Bundesliga over the years, [42:07] I need to have a much, much closer look. [42:10] Anybody who puts his foot on the accelerator will love playing with me and for me. [42:17] I think the most surprising HR choice is Mark Kosicke, your advisor and manager. [42:31] What exactly is his role going to be? [42:34] Will he be 100% working alongside you? [42:38] Maybe that Neuendorff can address that. [42:45] I would like to answer that. [42:47] No, no, the contractual relationship, Mark Kosicke and you. [42:56] Right. [42:57] From the beginning, when we had the very first conversation, [43:04] we learned that Mark Kosicke is a very important person in his life. [43:11] And I think I don't even know how many times we've talked over the phone [43:16] or sent text messages to each other. [43:18] So, they are very tight. [43:20] They're very close. [43:22] And it was obvious from the beginning, from the word go, [43:25] that we only could get Jürgen as part of a package. [43:30] He called him an assistant coach for all matters [43:36] at administrative management organization. [43:40] So, that's the role that Mark Kosicke, that's as far as we understand [43:46] and that's how the contract has been modeled, will be assuming. [43:52] Not necessarily as a DFB member of staff, but that said, [43:57] he has every access to the association. [44:01] He has every possibility to address team issues, coaching staff issues. [44:07] And he will be a key interface person as far as team, communication, sponsorships. [44:16] So, all these issues that the coaching staff will be involved in, [44:24] I mean, away from the actual things that happen on the pitch, [44:29] that will be Mark Kosicke's sphere of responsibility. [44:33] So, Mark Kosicke will deal with these issues. [44:37] He will be a very close link. [44:41] He will be closely tied to the DFB. [44:45] So, he will be involved in marketing. [44:48] He will also be absolutely accessible for all matters that Mark Kosicke raises. [44:56] And I will listen to his voice in order to learn what the coaching staff wants [45:03] and what the coaching staff things are indispensable. [45:08] So, actual decisions will, of course, be made by the decision-making bodies here at the DFB. [45:15] But he and Jürgen can be assured that we will meet with pleasure every objective [45:23] and fulfil every wish that they have because we share the same objective and the same goal. [45:29] So, I think it will be a very good and fruitful cooperation. [45:33] I know that there are plenty of questions. [45:39] Let us have three more to go and then call it quits. [45:46] The important questions. [45:53] Like I said, it's a major honour for you to be appointed Germany head coach. [46:00] Are we going to see you in a suit or in a tracksuit on the sidelines? [46:12] Truth be told, I haven't really thought about that. [46:16] A suit and tie? Probably not. [46:21] But I've gotten older, so have you. And let's just see what we find. [46:28] But a tracksuit is unlikely because that was a long time ago. [46:34] And over the last two years, I've had a chance to find new clothing for the task that I was given. [46:41] So, I think I'll be wearing business casual. [46:48] In the early days, the national team was viewed differently. [46:57] You as a club coach, that is. [47:00] Now that the issue is at hand, what people will you be exchanging views with? [47:09] Who will be your partners to gain information? [47:17] Well, I've met many coaches in my lifetime. [47:21] And some of them became national team coaches for their respective countries. [47:27] So, the club versus country issue, generally speaking. [47:46] Everybody needs to be challenged, in a way, for him or her to become better. [47:54] I mean, I'm not the kind of guy who would just call up people. [48:03] I want challenges, I thrive on challenges. [48:09] So is my coaching staff. [48:12] And over the years, it really became clear. [48:17] I mean, I think my biggest strength is probably for me to know where I'm not really good at. [48:27] So some people, some things I can manage and I'm reasonably good at, I know that. [48:34] I've always implemented the things that I want to happen. [48:39] But I wanted for us to present the perfect package, not just make things easier for me, [48:46] but to present to the DFB the best possible people that the association needs at this stage. [48:53] So people have always, you know, people from outside the DFB always say, [49:03] well, you need to change the DFB structures. [49:06] The truth is that I don't really know the DFB structures yet. [49:10] So first of all, I need to familiarize myself with the as-is status [49:15] and then go about changing things if necessary. [49:19] So my coaching staff and I work row in the same direction, [49:26] sit in the same boat and row in the same direction. [49:29] And that's what it's all about. [49:32] So we need to perform to the best of our abilities as a team. [49:36] That's the thought behind it. [49:38] And just how a Germany head coach job is going to happen, [49:43] I don't really know yet. [49:45] It becomes clearer by the day. [49:49] And I've now known my most important co-workers and colleagues, [49:54] Watzke and Noindorf, that is. [49:57] So I need to know telephone numbers, I need to be put in the know. [50:04] I'm still at the beginning of a learning curve, let's put it this way. [50:11] Rudi Völler will also be part of your team, will he not? [50:23] What are you going to change as far as Rudi Völler is concerned? [50:29] What kind of exchanges will you have? [50:32] Well, he is part of the coaching staff with the most caps. [50:39] I mean, Jürgen Rudi Völler will be a crucial point of contact, [50:47] because I want to know everything from him, [50:51] how things work over here, what the routines are like, [50:55] what are the necessities, what are the do's and don'ts. [50:59] So I'll be really, really hanging, spending plenty of time with Rudi Völler [51:05] to know how things work. [51:09] So I will run the ideas by him and ask him for his view, [51:18] ask him for his views on life. [51:23] He is going to smile and grin at the right moment, [51:29] but he will also be furious at the right kind of moment. [51:34] So I really look forward very, very much to cooperating with him. [51:40] And he has so many anecdotes and old stories to share, [51:44] and I'm dying to hear all of them and benefit and grow as a person. [51:54] As a player, I absolutely loved him, [51:58] and I've got to know him, got to know and respect him, [52:02] and working together with Rudi will be great.