Overview
- Mertesacker confirmed he will step down as head of Arsenal’s academy at the end of the season after eight years in the role.
- BILD reports he is a hot candidate for a position at the German Football Association, with the Geschäftsführer Sport role seen as the likely fit.
- The current incumbent, Andreas Rettig, is under contract until 31 December 2026, and a Sky report of an imminent extension in April 2025 has not been followed by an announcement.
- Mertesacker’s work as a ZDF pundit runs through the 2026 World Cup, after which he would be available for a new assignment.
- BILD also claims he plans roughly a one-year sabbatical in London with his family, and he was previously discussed in 2022 as a possible successor to Oliver Bierhoff.