FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Germany coach Joachim Loew has extended his contract through the 2020 European Championship, giving him another chance to win the continental title.
Loew guided Germany to the World Cup title in 2014 in Brazil but has failed to win the European Championship in three attempts, most recently this year in France, where the Germans lost in the semifinals.
“I feel the unlimited trust of the (German) federation behind me,” Loew said Monday. “When the heart and the mind both say yes, then there isn’t much to think about.”
Federation president Reinhard Grindel said Loew was “the best coach we could imagine.”
Loew, whose previous deal took him through the World Cup in Russia in 2018, has been in charge since taking over from Juergen Klinsmann after the 2006 World Cup. Loew had been Klinsmann’s assistant as Germany finished third in its home tournament.
“We all want to confirm the great success of Brazil in Russia,” Loew said.
As late as September, Loew had said that there was no need to discuss a contract extension this early. But Grindel was eager to secure the deal before a federation congress later this week that is expected to re-elect him.
Loew, a former Freiburg forward who favors a possession-based game and attacking soccer, has overseen steady progress for Germany, finishing runner-up at Euro 2008 and third at the World Cup in 2010 before reaching the semifinals at Euro 2012. Two years after that, Germany won the World Cup.
Germany hopes to make up for another semifinal loss at Euro 2016 by retaining its world title.
Loew appears completely at ease in the role and recently ruled out a return to the Bundesliga. As Germany coach, he has a free rein over sporting decisions, a reported salary of 3.5 million euros ($3.82 million), boosted by additional promotional contracts, and a squad capable of winning more major tournaments.
Players like Manuel Neuer, Thomas Mueller, Jerome Boateng, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil and Mario Goetze can expect to play in at least two more major championships as Germany enjoys the fruits of a golden generation with more players coming through.
Loew could break the record of 167 matches in charge held by Sepp Herberger, who coached Germany between 1936 and 1942 and again between 1950 and 1964, winning Germany’s first World Cup title in 1954.
Loew has already tied Herberger for most wins at 94, needing only 141 games to match the mark.
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