How the hell do you become the first-ever German national team coach to be sacked

Hansi Flick, the coach who led Bayern to glory and established himself as the best man to lead the German national team, was a big mistake. There is no other way to put it, after the 58-year-old became the first German head coach to be sacked since the position was created in 1926.

German FA boss Bernd Neuendorf said the sacking was "unavoidable" after the team's recent run of "disappointing" results. He said that "with a view towards the European championships in our own country, we need a spirit of optimism and confidence", saying the decision was one of his "most difficult so far".

The Germans suffered an embarrassing group stage exit at the World Cup in the Gulf state last year and, despite Flick's optimism and talks about the future in every interview, the shocking friendly loss to Japan simply had to be his last.

"Der Mannschaft" was thoroughly outclassed by the Blue Samurai on home soil in the friendly in Wolfsburg, with only some acrobatic goalkeeping from Marc-Andre ter Stegen preventing the score from eclipsing 2001's 5-1 loss to England in Munich. Germany have now lost four of their six matches since their early exit from the World Cup in December. The home fans booed the German team at half-time, with some chanting "Hansi out" at the end of the match.

Germany have been historically reluctant to make drastic changes to the coaching position, with none of Flick's predecessors sacked, but wiith the team losing identity, confidence and results in the worst possible moment, the football association had to do what they haven't done for the past century.

Japan was the final straw – Flick is sacked by the Germans, Nagelsmann the main candidate

Appointed in May 2021 after Joachim Low's 15-year tenure ended, Flick was only Germany's 10th head coach since World War II. Fresh off taking Bayern Munich to seven trophies in just 18 months in charge, Flick was victorious in his first eight matches as Germany boss. Since then, he won just four of 17.

Flick was bullish after Saturday's latest loss, telling reporters he "was convinced of what we are doing" and "wanted to continue" in the top job. On Sunday, at a training session following the Japan defeat, Flick told fans "I'll keep fighting", but admitted "many things are difficult to predict" in football. He was right there, but the way he's led the national team - his sacking should come as no surprise.

Sporting director Rudi Voller, who coached the side to a 2002 World Cup final against Brazil, will take over on an interim basis with Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany in June 2024.