Germany national team head coach Joachim Low has announced that he will be stepping down from the post after Euro 2021. The DFB has also confirmed the news, with the contract set to run until 2022 now set to be cancelled after the tournament.

Here is what Low himself had to say regarding the decision:

“I take this step very consciously, full of pride and enormous gratitude, but at the same time continue to be very motivated when it comes to the upcoming European Championship tournament.

“Proud, because it is something very special and an honour for me to be involved in my country. And because I have been able to work with the best footballers in the country for almost 17 years and support them in their development.

“I have great triumphs with them and painful defeats, but above all many wonderful and magical moments — not just winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I am and will remain grateful to the DFB, which has always provided me and the team with an ideal working environment.”

Low joined the national team as assistant coach to Jürgen Klimsmann in 2004 before taking over in 2006. He has since managed to guide die Mennschaft into the semi-finals of Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, while achieving his highest point with the 2014 World Cup victory.

There were rumours linking Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick and Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp as potential candidates for Low’s replacement as in charge of the national team. However, while Klopp has denied being in talks for the job, a similar confirmation or a surprise decision in the opposite direction is awaited from Flick.