Joachim Low Quits As Germany Boss . . . Set To Leave After Euro 2020

Germany manager Joachim Low will quit after this summer's European Championships following a 15-year spell in charge.

Low, who has held the position as Germany boss since 2006, having been promoted from No 2 following Jurgen Klinsmann's exit that year, has been under intense scrutiny in recent times following some disastrous results and rumours of a rift with his players.

Germany were humiliated 6-0 by Spain back in November - their heaviest defeat in almost 90 years - as they finished runners-up in their UEFA Nations League group while Low was heavily criticised by some of his squad for axing experienced stars Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng following their abysmal 2018 World Cup campaign.

The World Cup-winning trio were all told by Low back in March 2019 that they would no longer be part of his plans, which left them and senior Germany players like Toni Kroos baffled.

 However, Low admitted over the weekend that he is considering making a U-turn and recalling Muller and Hummels to his squad ahead of the Euros.

Despite his recent struggles and Germany's woeful performance at the last major tournament, where they failed to get out of the group stage at the World Cup in Russia, Low insists he can look back on his time in charge with immense pride.  

After the announcement on Tuesday, Low said: 'I'm taking this step very consciously, full of pride and enormous gratitude, but at the same time will continue to be very motivated when it comes to the upcoming European Championships. 

'I'm proud, because it's something very special and an honor for me to be involved in my country. And because I have been able to work with the best footballers in the country for almost 17 years and support them in their development.

'I have great triumphs with them and painful defeats, but above all many wonderful and magical moments - not just winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I am and will remain grateful to the DFB, which has always provided me and the team with an ideal work environment.'

Under the 61-year-old, Germany have routinely reached the latter part of major international tournaments - aside from Russia in 2018 - and famously lifted the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

Low has also twice led Germany to third-place finishes at the World Cup as well as two European Championship semi-finals and one final in 2008, where they suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat against Spain.

As well as delivering Germany's fourth World Cup success seven years ago, Low also won the Confederations Cup in 2017. 

His contract with the Germany national team ran until 2022 but Low has decided to cut it short to leave this summer.