Nach dem historischen Gruppen-K.o. vor sechs Jahren – nie war eine Nationalmannschaft so früh bei einer Weltmeisterschaft ausgeschieden – hätten er und der damalige Nationalmannschaftsmanager Oliver Bierhoff sich aber „verantwortlich gefühlt. Wir müssen irgendwie den Karren wieder aus dem Dreck ziehen. Dafür sind wir da und das müssen wir jetzt auch nochmal beweisen. Aber das war natürlich nicht richtig“, sagte Löw und schob mit Blick auf 2018 nach: „Spätestens dann wäre der richtige Zeitpunkt gewesen“, um aufzuhören.
But Löw continued, led Germany to the European Championship, which was postponed to 2021 due to the corona pandemic – and his team was eliminated in the round of 16 against England. Only then did he end on the DFB coaching bench after around 15 years.
Flick at Barça? “Fit right there”
Löw can still imagine returning to the coaching bench. “Basically yes,” he said: “So far it hasn’t been the case that I’ve been completely and passionately gripped by a task. If that happens, then I’m certainly ready to do something again.”
Löw once again ruled out a position as Bundesliga coach. But if an association came knocking about the national coaching job, he could imagine returning, he said: “If I’m really really interested and find the job exciting.”
From a distance, Löw enjoys following the successful work of his former assistant coach Hansi Flick at FC Barcelona. “Barcelona is of course a club with an incredible philosophy, and Hansi is there for a reason,” said Löw: “Barcelona also knows that Hansi can deal very well with young players and that he is a coach who is offensive thinks and, above all, is courageous. And that’s why it fits right in there.”
