Uli Hoeneß criticizes the DFB takeover and FIFA boss Infantino

Klopp will “do a lot of things differently” after Julian Nagelsmann’s resignation and “a lot of things will get better,” said Hoeneß. But you have to “give him time and, above all, you must not believe that he is the Messiah.”

The former world and European champion also criticized. "What I don't like about the story is that his agent Marc Kosicke was bought in. I don't know exactly what he's supposed to do there. He has a player agency and he has that as managing director. The shares too. I think that's a problem. The whole story seems like a 'friendly take-over' to me. Klopp and Co. have taken over the DFB, and I think that's wrong," said Hoeneß.

The 74-year-old is hoping for a “completely new wind” from Per Mertesacker, who will replace Andreas Rettig as Sports Director at the German Football Association (DFB) from January. "If he can't do it, who else can?" said Hoeneß, who also suggested a new approach: "I am of the opinion that the DFB would have to outsource the national teams, the women, the men, the U23 and the U19, into a GmbH that has its own management with a profit transfer agreement for the DFB. It can't be the case that state princes should decide who will be the national coach. They have no idea about it."

What Hoeneß says to FIFA boss Infantino

Hoeneß described the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada with Germany's exit in the round of 16 as “an embarrassment for our country”. Julian Nagelsmann is “not alone to blame”. They didn't have great quality, "but you can still play a good World Cup. The Argentinians proved it. They don't have a good team, but they hit like crazy. I missed that in our team."

Hoeneß also commented on Fifa boss Gianni Infantino. Regarding the red card antics surrounding US striker Forarin Balogun at the World Cup, he said: “Mr. Infantino has made some mistakes in his life in football, but that was one of his biggest.” Hoeneß further explained: "If you let a man like Donald Trump decide or influence whether a player is banned or not, that is the beginning of the end, of competition. And if we accept something like that, then it is no longer my sport. That was an impossibility for me."

Regarding Infantino's expansion plans to expand the World Cup, which has already been expanded to 48 teams, to 64 teams, Hoeneß said: "We have already made our players available for six weeks and then it might be even longer. That's unbelievable." Hoeneß emphasized that he was really for the small associations: “But a World Cup has to be an elite event.”