Jogi Löw not amused by Philipp Lahm’s leadership advice

Philipp Lahm’s indirect advice on leadership to Germany national coach Joachim Löw left the veteran manager unimpressed. Lahm argued in an essay published on LinkedIn.com that Löw and his coaching staff needed to adopt a stricter leadership style for a new generation of players who were accustomed to thinking as individuals rather than as a team.

Löw acknowledged that he had heard Lahm’s advice while criticizing his arguments:

I have heard it, obviously. I don’t think its style and manner are so correct. We are fully aware how we have to communicate with young players and what leadership style we need.

Pace Lahm, Löw argued that

We have always done this outstandingly in our own way, which has also led us to many successes. For that reason, I was not very pleased with [the advice] in this case.

Many commentators, including Dietmar Hamann, viewed Lahm’s essay as an indirect effort to position himself for a position in the DFB, and none other than Karl-Heinz Rummenigge himself publicly suggested that Lahm should become DFB vice-president at an event honoring Jupp Heynckes on Friday. Rummenigge said,

I consider Philipp Lahm and his agent Roman Grill to be a perfect fit for the DFB, because Philipp has this quality to potentially work for a federation. That would perhaps be an interesting solution.

Rummenigge blasted the DFB as “full of amateurs” in further comments, though making an exception for Jogi Löw himself.

At present, Löw is preparing to make difficult decisions about the future of the German national team. He told the players, “that it is important for them to go on vacation, have peace and some distance and also to reflect.” Löw now intends to have discussions with the players.

“Then we will also make decisions in terms of personnel,” he said, indicating that cuts may be coming soon.