Joachim Low is set to end his stint as the head coach of Germany’s national team after this summer’s European Championship tournament. The news was announced by German Football Association (Deutscher Fußball-Bund) on Tuesday.
Low was under contract through 2022 but asked to be relieved of his duties immediately after Germany’s participation at EURO ends, according to the DFB. The association opted to honor the manager’s wishes and will now have to find a new head coach for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Germany holds the record for most European Championship appearances with 13. The country won the competition three times, with their last title coming in 1996. They will start this year’s tournament in Group F alongside Poland, France, and Portugal.
Several names have already been rumored as Low’s successor, including Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp and Bayern Munich’s Hansi Flick. The local legend Lothar Matthaus is also expected to receive consideration.
Joachim Low initially joined Germany’s national team in 2004 as Jurgen Klinsmann’s assistant. After Klinsmann decided not to renew his contract in 2006, Low stepped in as his replacement.
Under Low, Germany won the FIFA World Cup in 2014, the country’s first since 1990, and the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017. His best outing at EUROs was a silver medal in 2008.
“I have great triumphs with them and painful defeats, but above all many wonderful and magical moments, not just winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I am and will remain grateful to the DFB, which has always provided me and the team with an ideal working environment,” said Low.
