Arsenal academy manager Per Mertesacker linked with German FA role after World Cup nightmare

Jonathan Gorrie7 December 2022

Per Mertesacker could be of interest to the German FA after a nightmare 2022 World Cup.

Hansi Flick’s side were dramatically knocked out of the group stages, failing to recover from their shock loss to Japan, despite drawing with Spain and beating Costa Rica.

The 2014 world champions have won only twice in the competition since their last triumph in Brazil and there have been calls for a root-and-stem rebuild before the 2024 European Championships.

Germany will host the tournament and the DFB are reportedly looking to overhaul their management structure as they desperately seek an improvement.

Managing director Oliver Bierhoff has resigned and, according to Sky in Germany, Mertesacker is a candidate to help replace him.

The former Arsenal defender has been working with the club’s academy since 2018 and could be targeted for a role within the DFB that focuses on the development of young German talent.

Last month, Edu Gaspar was promoted to the role of sporting director at the Emirates Stadium, in the hope that he will work with academy manager Mertesacker to continue to successfully integrated academy players into the first-team.

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