Munich (dpa) – Germany goalkeeper coach Andreas Koepke is leaving his post at the national team after 17 years, the 59-year-old confirmed to dpa on Wednesday after a report by the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper.
«Yes, it’s true,» Koepke said. His contract was still valid until the end of 2022 and after the World Cup in Qatar, but he decided to leave with the end of the Joachim Loew era, he said.
New Germany coach Hansi Flick now must find a new goalkeeper coach.
«I came here with Jogi and will leave with him after 17 years,» Koepke said.
He joined the coaching team led by Juergen Klinsmann in October 2004 as Sepp Maier’s successor. Together with Loew and Flick, Koepke won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, his greatest success as goalkeeper coach.
Koepke plans to take a holiday «for the time being,» while his future remains open.
Flick is working with German football federation director Oliver Bierhoff to appoint his coaching staff. The association is expected to make decisions quickly as Germany are back in action in September at the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.