Contract talks
February 9, 2010
Germany's National Coach Joachim Loew and the German Football Federation (DFB) will hold off on contract talks until after the World Cup in June, putting a temporary end to the heated negotiations of the last few days.
"We've had a very, long, intense conversation and we want to get this misunderstanding out of the way," Loew said at a press conference with DFB President Theo Zwanziger and Team Manager Oliver Bierhoff on Tuesday in Frankfurt.
"We agree that our mutual interest is tied to the build-up to the World Cup over the coming weeks and months and we will prepare the team so that it can enjoy a good tournament."
In December, Zwanziger said Loew had verbally agreed to extend his contract, which expires in July, until 2012. Loew, however, denied last week that any such agreement had been made.
On Friday, Loew said he and Bierhoff had been given 48 hours to accept or reject a non-negotiable offer by the DFB. Zwanziger said earlier in the week that the two sides had been unable to agree on aspects of the new contract, including wage demands.
The comment, and the DFB's decision to publicize details of the negotiations over the weekend, did not help relations between Loew and the association.
World Cup is the sole focus
Both sides have now agreed to table the contract discussions until after the World Cup. "We have to remember that we are representing not only the DFB but also Germany and millions of fans," said Loew. "I can assure you that we will do everything so that Germany does well at the tournament."
Since taking over for Jurgen Klinsmann as Germany's national coach in 2006, Loew has led the team to 31 victories, eight draws and six defeats and to the final of the European championship in 2008. In South Africa, Germany will face off against Australia, Ghana and Serbia in Group D, and is seen as one of the favorites.
"The team needs this coach," Zwanziger said at the conference. "We want success and I say it here and now, such success at the World Cup is only possible with this coach."
cmk/AFP/dpa/Reuters
Editor: Rob Turner