Tinjauan 2. Division

Former Arsenal academy director Per Mertesacker has spoken out about his new challenge after being confirmed as the incoming sporting managing director of the German Football Association (DFB). The 2014 World Cup winner is set to play a pivotal role in the nation's footballing future, joining the setup at the same time as legendary manager Jurgen Klopp.

The arrival of Jurgen Klopp as Germany’s new national team head coach has sparked a wave of optimism across the country not seen in many years. Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes the presence of the charismatic coach alone is enough to transform the national mood, though he insists significant tactical hurdles still lie ahead for the squad.

Andrea Pirlo is set to be named the new Italy head coach early next week after agreeing terms on a four-year contract. The former World Cup winner emerged as the primary candidate for the national team job after Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola declined the federation's initial approaches, paving the way for his return to the Azzurri set-up.

Pep Guardiola has declined an offer to become the head coach of the Italy national team following discussions with technical director Paolo Maldini. The former Manchester City manager opted to stick to his plan of taking an extended break from management rather than taking charge of the Azzurri ahead of their upcoming campaigns.