Matthias Sammer urges incoming DFB chief Per Mertesacker to lead bold reforms
Former DFB sporting director Matthias Sammer called on designated sports managing director Per Mertesacker to assert decisive authority in overhauling German football development during a panel in Munich.
Sammer's expectations for Mertesacker
Former German Football Association (DFB) sporting director Matthias Sammer outlined high expectations for incoming sports managing director Per Mertesacker during the Sky Sport Impuls panel discussion in Munich on 30 September 2026. Sammer, who won the European Championship with Germany in 1996 and served as DFB sporting director between 2006 and 2012, described the 2014 World Cup winner as the central figure required to guide the future of German football. Speaking at the event titled "Much talent, little world class - how well do we train? Ways out of the dilemma of German football", the 59-year-old stated that Mertesacker possesses the physical presence, pedigree, and clarity necessary to establish authority within the federation. Sammer emphasized that leading the sporting division requires unyielding resolve, remarking that institutional resistance is part of the job.
He is tall, he has broad shoulders, he is a world champion. And now he must have the courage to describe it conceptually in an understandable way, and then he must defend his ideas.
Alignment with Klopp and Wolf
Sammer voiced confidence in a leadership group that pairs Mertesacker with new national team coach Jürgen Klopp and youth development sporting director Hannes Wolf. According to Sammer, Wolf at the junior level and Klopp with the senior national side have already set structural guidelines that Mertesacker must now bring to completion. Sammer praised Mertesacker's factual and analytical approach, arguing that German football needs strong leadership capable of making clear decisions.
- Matthias Sammer wins the European Championship as a player
- Matthias Sammer begins tenure as DFB sporting director
- Matthias Sammer concludes six-year term as DFB sporting director
- Per Mertesacker wins the FIFA World Cup
- DFB appoints Jürgen Klopp and designates Per Mertesacker for leadership roles
Sammer added that Mertesacker must assert himself mercilessly within the association, stating that failing to push through necessary changes would prove he was the wrong appointment.
Call for simplified youth development
Addressing the state of player development, Sammer argued that modern German football has overcomplicated its training methodologies and lost its competitive courage. The Borussia Dortmund advisor criticized excessive administrative documents, insisting that structural reform can be achieved through straightforward principles rather than bureaucratic handbooks. Sammer urged clubs and coaches to return to basic fundamentals, rigorous physical sessions, and strong mental standards.
We do not need a concept with 400 pages, we need a concept with one page.
Sammer diagnosed a broader cultural hesitance across domestic football, stating that German football has become fearful rather than courageous. He stressed that improving football development is straightforward if clubs commit to increased training workloads and higher intensity.
Challenges in transitioning youth players
Sammer acknowledged the operational difficulties German clubs face when transitioning teenage prospects from youth academies into senior professional squads. While recognizing the gap between age-group competitions and the senior game, he maintained that personal resilience remains the decisive factor for emerging players. He emphasized that clubs must foster greater willpower in their developmental pipelines. He concluded that individuals who lack the determination to assert themselves at the professional level are fundamentally unsuitable for the top tier.
