Germany head coach Joachim Löw will continue his role as head coach of the national team beyond World Cup 2018 in Russia. German FA (Deutscher-Fußball Bund – DFB) president Reinhard Grindel and Löw have agreed a contract extension until the 2020 European Championship. The DFB presidium unanimously agreed to the two-year extension.

Löw has been the head coach of the national team since 2006, but also served as Jürgen Klinsmann’s assistant manager from 2004. He has overseen 141 internationals (94 wins, 24 draws, 23 defeats), including five international tournaments. The highlight of his reign is the 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil.

DFB president Reinhard Grindel on the extension: “I have always emphasised that I can imagine no better head coach for the national team than Jogi Löw. Over the past few years he has shaped the team with his passion and highly-technical ability, while constantly developing the team and leading them to a World Cup title. He has a real determination and motivation to defend the World Cup in Russia. For both sides it was important to have planning security and to be able to concentrate on the sporting tasks ahead of us without speculation. We’re delighted that we can continue our extremely close and successful cooperation beyond the World Cup so that Jögi Löw also wants to lead Die Mannschaft at the EUROs, where we want to start with our group games in Munich.”

“I would like to thank Reinhard Grindel, general secretary Friedrich Curtius, the entire DFB presidential board and the league for the support and the faith placed in me with this contract extension,” said Joachim Löw. “I also want to thank Oliver Bierhoff, Andreas Köpke, Thomas Schneider and Marcus Sorg, as well as the rest of the team behind the team. Our work together is based on a huge amount of trust and we all want to back up our success in Brazil at the World Cup in Russia. Developing this team and these players and trying to take them to the highest level is a real joy – it’s as much an incentive for me as winning a title. Our sole focus at the moment is qualifying for the 2018 World Cup as group winners.”

General secretary Dr. Friedrich Curtius also spoke of “mutual respect and trust” during the contract talks. “With his competency and his approach both on and off the pitch, Jogi Löw is the perfect head coach. Oliver Bierhoff and Marcus Sorg’s contracts already run to 2020, and we will now talk with Andy Köpke and Thomas Schneider. We’re very happy that we have been able to provide continuity at the head of the Germany national team.”

(DFB Press Release | Photo courtesy: DFB / Getty Images)