Overview
- Former DFB sport director Matthias Sammer publicly replied to Oliver Bierhoff on Tuesday by saying Bierhoff is partly responsible for promoting “flat hierarchies” at the German Football Association and calling that approach “a catastrophe.”
- Bierhoff had told kicker that the national team lacks “outstanding personalities” and suffers from a personality and character problem because too few players take responsibility on the pitch.
- Sammer argued in the Sky show that treating all players the same erodes clear leadership roles and that elite sport needs distinct types such as leaders, team players and individualists.
- There is no published rebuttal from Bierhoff and the DFB has not issued an official statement, leaving the disagreement to play out in sports media and shape public debate about team culture.
- Both men have long DFB histories—Bierhoff worked for 18 years including as team manager and director, and Sammer was sport manager from 2006–2012—so the exchange focuses on institutional choices and accountability as much as on current player personnel.