Indian Origin Robin Dutt: A Chance I couldn't turn down!

To many it came as surprise when first rumours came out that Robin Dutt could be a candidate for the post of Director of Sports at the German Football Association (DFB), then many expected the DFB to look for a high profile name rather then someone qualified for the post and with amateur and Bundesliga experience.

In the end the DFB decided to look for option two and then the name Robin Dutt came-up. In less then two weeks everything was worked out and today the DFB presented their new Director of Sports to the media and public.

For Robin Dutt initially it came as a surprise that the DFB had approached him to become Director of Sports, some would call this position Technical Director. But Robin said at the press conference after giving the post some thought it was an chance which he could not turn down though he will now be away from everyday work with a team on the field as a coach.

Robin Dutt said about his appointment, "To take on this exciting task at the DFB has a special meaning for me. I look forward to working with national coach Joachim Löw and all other DFB coaches. And to me it is an incredibly interesting challenge to develop the biggest talents of our country."

What still many in Germany do not know is that Robin Dutt is of Indian origin, his father is a Bengali and his mother is German. He was born in Cologne but early in his life his father shifted to southwest Germany and that is were he would stay before becoming a coach at SC Freiburg, whom he got promoted to the Bundesliga and then Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Robin Dutt will officially join the DFB on August 1, 2012 and has signed a four year contract.


Here a link to an older blog post of mine from 2010: Robin Dutt: An Indo-German success story .

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.