Bundesliga
World Cup winner in the dugout
Former Bundesliga defender and 2014 FIFA World Cup winner Shkodran Mustafi has been named assistant coach of Germany’s Under-21 side.
Mustafi, who won 20 caps for Germany and played for several big-name European clubs in a distinguished career, joins head coach Antonio Di Salvo and fellow assistant Ovid Hajou on the U21s’ coaching staff.
The 33-year-old, who had spent the last year with Germany’s U17s, will link up with his new colleagues for the first time on 1 September, ahead of a friendly against Albania and the opening 2027 European U21 Championship qualifier against Latvia.
“I’m really looking forward to it, not least because I followed the European U21 Championship very closely this summer and could feel the euphoria in our country on the back of our fantastic performances,” said Mustafi, reflecting on the team's run to the final in Slovakia. “I want to pass on my experience and knowledge to these youngsters on and off the pitch.”
After coming through the youth ranks at Hamburg, Mustafi went on to enjoy spells with Italian side Sampdoria and Valencia in Spain before joining English Premier League club Arsenal in 2016.
The defender made 151 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions, winning the FA Cup in 2017 and 2020 before a brief spell with Schalke in 2021 - his only stint in the Bundesliga.
Three of his 20 senior caps for Germany came during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where Joachim Löw’s side were crowned world champions for a fourth time courtesy of a famous 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final.