Two weeks after the missed European Championship medal Stefan Kermas has resigned as coach of the German national hockey team. This was announced by the association on Friday. After a joint analysis of the tournament Kermas therefore offered the association its resignation actively, so the German hockey federation (DHB) in its announcement.
"Since it has not been possible to implement the goals we have set, I have drawn my conclusions from them," Kermas is quoted as saying. DHB competitive sports director Heino Knuf said: "Such a change in the national coaching position is very rare in our sport, but perhaps creates the necessary impetus, which is important for the team eleven months before the Olympics."
Lack of success of the men's team
Most recently, the German men's team had stood on a podium in winning the Olympic bronze medal under coach Valentin Altenburg. With Kermas' subsequent takeover followed by two fourth places at the European Championships 2017 and 2019 and the quarter-final out at the 2018 World Cup and the missed Grand Final in the new FIH Pro League. Added to this was the historic 0: 8 in the preliminary round against Belgium - the highest defeat of the DHB men for more than 100 years.
We will analyze this very thoroughly, "Knuf had announced following the 4-0 defeat in the match for the European Championship bronze medal against the Netherlands in Antwerp, but Kermas had his back:" I assume that Stefan is our coach for Tokyo, but of course you have to wait for the analysis. "After the last intensive talks, Knuf finally accepted the resignation offer of the national coach.
Due to the European Championship, the now only world ranked sixth in two qualifying games at the beginning of November in Mönchengladbach must first earn the ticket for the Olympics 2020. Anyone who looks after the men's team there and on the planned trip to Tokyo as national coach is currently open.