German FA extends Sammer contract

The German Football Association (DFB) has extended the existing contract with their Director of Sports Matthias Sammer by another three years until 2016. Sammer since being in office in 2006 has been successful in streamlining the youth system of the federation.

In 2009 Germany was the first ever UEFA member nation to be European champions in the Under-17, U-19 and U-21 categories at the same time. And the current wave of young players not only in the German senior national team, but through the youth teams is down to the work of Sammer and the coaches, who have been able to reform German football to be amongst the best in youth development around the world.

"I am delighted that, after extending the contract of the national team coach Joachim Low and his team, we can also plan in the long term with our director of sport. Matthias Sammer is one of the most important figures in our association, who has done excellent work in the field of youth development," said DFB president Dr. Theo Zwanziger.

Sammer, who has been controversial in the past due to his honest and direct approach, has been a sought after figure as he was linked a few months ago to coach Hamburger SV and even FC Bayern Munich were considering him an alternative to Louis van Gaal, but he has now decided to stay with the DFB and further develops its youth development system.

"I am delighted that the president Dr. Theo Zwanziger, general secretary Wolfgang Niersbach and treasurer Horst R. Schmidt are supporting our philosophy in youth development," Sammer said.

And added, "This work is the key to establishing German football at the summit of world football."

It seems Sammer still has some work to be done to position Germany as the best in the world, but the foundations have been laid and it is a very good path.