The DFB decision-makers settled the succession to U-21 success coach Stefan Kuntz in an exciting and original way because they placed their trust internally but also sought external support. A commentary by kicker reporter Carsten Schröter-Lorenz.
The advantages of Antonio di Salvo’s promotion to the new head coach of the U-21 national team are obvious. The long-time assistant to Stefan Kuntz is closely acquainted with the rest of the coaching and support staff, has himself made a major contribution to the many successes under Kuntz, and knows both the current U-21 generation and the following years very well. In short: Di Salvo stands for the greatest possible continuity in Germany’s oldest junior team. And it is a signal from the DFB top brass to its own people: there are real opportunities for promotion and we trust you.
Nevertheless, a big question remains: Can di Salvo fill the role lived to perfection by Kuntz as a lighthouse with strong communication skills, who internally ensured cohesion, a feel-good atmosphere, but also a willingness to lead and focus, and even externally created enthusiasm around the U 21?
Di Salvo still has to prove himself in the limelight
Di Salvo has yet to prove that he is up to the new challenging head duties, especially in dealing with the public and the media, and that they do not limit his strengths on the pitch and in analysis. A risk inherent in any promotion of a second-tier expert to boss in the limelight.
However, this risk is mitigated by the coup with Hermann Gerland. The grand master of the co-coaching guild, who also stands for the excellent promotion of young professionals like no other, is a stroke of luck for the U21s. The DFB officials Bierhoff, Flick, Chatzialexiou and Schönweitz thus gave an exciting and original answer to this question of direction: rely again on an emphatic, charismatic and successful ex-professional like Kuntz and his predecessor Horst Hrubesch, or let a younger coach with a greater focus on professional expertise take over?
Gerland has already coached di Salvo
Di Salvo, at 42, is still a young coach, also up to date on the latest football lore thanks to his work with DFB chief instructor and U-21 assistant Daniel Niedzkowski, and can still look back on 183 first and second league appearances as a striker. Gerland also brings over 200 appearances as a professional, the cumulative coaching expertise of over 35 years at the top level of youth and professional football, and 67 years of life experience. Including Champions League and World Cup triumphs, Gerland has seen it all in football and knows di Salvo from the time when he coached him himself for a while at Bayern Amateurs.
On paper at least, the DFB has made a promising start to the post-Kuntz era with the U21s.
