Germany coach Loew extends contract to 2018

Joachim Loew has agreed to extend his contract as Germany coach by two years to July 2018, meaning he will oversee the holders’ bid for a second consecutive World Cup triumph.

“Both sides agreed on an early contract extension until July 31, 2018,” the German Football Federation (DFB) said on its website on Friday.

Loew’s assistant Thomas Schneider and goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke have also been rewarded with new contracts.

“I am also very happy that we extended the contract to the 2018 World Cup,” Loew told reporters in Frankfurt after the signing.

“I think for me it was a decision where my heart and my brain both said ‘yes.”

Loew took over from Juergen Klinsmann after the 2006 World Cup and led Germany to one final and two semi-finals in his first three major tournaments in charge.

Germany ended an 18-year title drought by beating Argentina 1-0 in last year’s World Cup final in Brazil.

German Football Federation Website (DFB)

Maher Taki