Germany sack coach Hansi Flick following Saturday's 4-1 friendly defeat to Japan

Germany coach Hansi Flick signs autographs after his side's 4-1 loss to Japan in September 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Germany have sacked coach Hansi Flick following Saturday's dismal 4-1 friendly defeat to Japan in Wolfsburg.

Flick, who led Bayern Munich to the treble in 2019-20, has had a difficult time in charge of the national side and becomes the first coach to be sacked from the role since 1926.

Germany have lost four of their last five games and have won only 12 of the 25 fixtures since Flick succeeded Joachim Löw in 2021.

They were knocked out in the group stages of last year's World Cup in Qatar and are in bad shape ahead of next summer's European Championship, which will be held in Germany.

Former Germany striker and coach Rudi Völler takes temporary charge and will lead out the team in Tuesday night's friendly against France.

German FA president Bernd Neuendorf said: "The committee agreed that the German national team needs a fresh impetus after the recent disappointing results.

"Going into the European Championship next summer, we need confidence and optimism in the country regarding our team.

"This has been one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make during my time in this role because I really respect Hansi Flick and his assistants, both on a professional and personal level.

"Sporting success is of the upmost importance to the DFB, which is why this decision had to be made."

Former Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann, who is out of work since leaving the Munich club last season, is thought to be a leading contender for the role.

The German FA said they planned on naming a successor to Flick "as soon as possible".

More Germany stories

Jamal Musiala discusses his 'tough' decision to choose Germany's national team over England.

German legend Bernd Schuster has opened up on his reasons for quitting international football at the age of 24.

And in this interview, Lothar Matthäus looks back on the 1990 World Cup semi-final between West Germany and England in Turin.

Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.

Read more
Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel, waving
‘Certain people are suited to international football. Sven was, Southgate was, but I think Thomas Tuchel might be more suited to club football like Pep and Klopp’: John Barnes reveals his major Thomas Tuchel fear
‘In terms of credentials, he’s fantastic, but it’s our country against yours – if Southgate won the World Cup with Germany, what would English people say?’: Ex-Englaand striker weighs in on Thomas Tuchel and the foreign manager debate
Germany's forward Selina Cerci (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal with her teammates during the women's friendly football match Germany vs Australia in Duisburg, western Germany on October 28, 2024.
Germany Women Euro 2025 squad: Christian Wück's full team
Thomas Tuchel has been appointed the new England manager
‘England supporters are craving some success. If Tuchel can come in and finish the brilliant job Gareth Southgate started, nobody will care if he leaves’: Ex-Three Lions international gives his take on Thomas Tuchel's short-term deal
England Euro 2024 squad Gareth Southgate, Head Coach of England, looks on during the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between England and Switzerland at Düsseldorf Arena on July 06, 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
'You can find yourself mocked if you don’t conform to the latest trend. As hardened as I am to criticisms, there’s no way I was going to trawl through social media last summer and read abuse' Sir Gareth Southgate opens up on abuse during England spell
Thomas Tuchel has been appointed the new England manager
‘Thomas Tuchel galvanised Chelsea – he quickly identified which players could fit into a system that would win matches. They were putty in his hands from day one’: Joe Cole on why fans should expect a fast start from the new England boss
Latest in Stories
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds aloft the Premier League trophy at the Etihad in May 2023.
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League champion... in just 90 seconds?
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: manager Ange Postecoglou of Tottenham Hotspur FC and Micky van de Venand Cristian Romero during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and West Ham United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Tottenham star Cristian Romero 'willing to do everything' to LEAVE: report
Newcastle United's Dan Burn battles with Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on February 26, 2025.
I watch every football game on this TV - and it's been discounted by £210 in the Amazon Spring Deal Days
Latest in News
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: manager Ange Postecoglou of Tottenham Hotspur FC and Micky van de Venand Cristian Romero during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and West Ham United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Tottenham star Cristian Romero 'willing to do everything' to LEAVE: report