On Thursday, the DFB announced Stefan Kuntz’s successor. The previous assistant coach Antonio di Salvo will be on the sidelines of the Germany U 21 from now on.
Di Salvo (42) will be given a contract until 2023. Hermann Gerland (67), who has been a scout with the DFB since August 2021, will join the team as co-coach. Assistant Daniel Niedzkowski, goalkeeping coach Klaus Thomforde and match analyst Jannis Scheibe will remain with the team. “I am looking forward to the upcoming task and to working with an already successful and well-functioning coaching team around Toni Di Salvo, whom I had the pleasure of getting to know as a young player at Bayern Munich,” Gerland was quoted as saying. “I am sure that I can support the coaching team well with my experience in the professional and youth sectors.”
Di Salvo thanked the DFB presidium and the sporting management led by Oliver Bierhoff, Hansi Flick, Joti Chatzialexiou and Meikel Schönweitz for the trust they have placed in him. “I’m looking forward to the upcoming tasks with an outstanding coaching and functional team, which is optimally complemented by Hermann Gerland.” DFB director Bierhoff said they had found the “right successor” for Stefan Kuntz in di Salvo. “We want continuity in our coaching staff and to constantly develop our own people and give them confidence.”
Flick trusts di Salvo with the task
“For Toni, this is the next and the logical step,” said DFB coach Hansi Flick, who was involved in the decisions. “I’ve known him, his work and his principles in dealing with players and teams for a long time, and it was always clear to me that he has the ability to also lead a team himself.”
Di Salvo has been working in various areas at the DFB since 2013; he spent two seasons as co-coach of the U17s at FC Bayern Munich. As a professional, he played 100 Bundesliga games (17 goals) and 83 second division games (14 goals), including for FC Bayern, Hansa Rostock and 1860 Munich.
Predecessor Kuntz had recently signed a three-year contract as Turkey’s national coach, and the DFB terminated the contract. “I am very grateful to the DFB presidium for releasing me from my contract early,” Kuntz had been quoted as saying in a statement.
In 2017 and 2021, Kuntz and his coaching team had led the German U-21 team to the European Championship title and to the European Championship final in 2019, and also coached Team D at the Olympic football tournament in Japan this year.