DFB renews contract with women's sporting director Künzer

Nia Kuenzer, sports director for women's soccer at the German Football Association, stands in the stadium before the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich at Volkswagen Arena. Swen Pförtner/dpa
Nia Künzer's contract as sporting director for women's football has been extended by two years until 2029.
The German Football Federation (DFB) made the announcement on Wednesday after a unanimous agreement from its supervisory board and meeting of the partners.
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Former Germany player Künzer, who scored the winner in the 2003 World Cup final, took the newly-created job in January 2024 on an original three-year deal.
"Nia Künzer is an asset for the DFB," president Bernd Neuendorf said.
"She has set the course for further development in this high-priority area for the DFB with her clear plan, her football expertise, perseverance and foresight as well as her leadership skills.
"At the same time, she has retained her critical eye. She is a strong personality with enormous charisma for the DFB."
Künzer, 45, said it was good to have clarity before next month's Euro 2025 tournament in Switzerland. Germany are record eight-time European champions and were runners-up in 2022.
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"I am delighted with the trust placed in me - and that we are continuing on this path together. Over the past year and a half, we have been able to further develop a number of areas within the women's national team and also provide new impetus.
"I want to continue this work with my great team and fulfil our high expectations, especially for the women's national team as an important factor in overall development.
"We were able to celebrate our first successes by reaching the final four of the Nations League 2024 and 2025 as well as the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Paris. We have other big goals and a lot more on our agenda."

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