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Former Germany defender Per Mertesacker insists he has his hands full at Arsenal and is not considering the possibility of his country coming calling.
Mertesacker is the academy manager at Arsenal, but he has been tipped as a “perfect man for the job” as Germany seek a new national team director.
That was the view expressed this week by Real Madrid star Toni Kroos, a former international team-mate of Mertesacker.
Mertesacker, speaking to German broadcaster Sky Sport on Saturday at a charity ice hockey game benefitting his Per Mertesacker Foundation, spoke of his enjoyment of his role in England.
The national team role has become vacant after long-time incumbent Oliver Bierhoff moved on after Germany’s second consecutive World Cup group-stage exit.
“I’m super happy in England and I’m in charge of the youth academy. There’s a lot to do there,” said Mertesacker, who won 104 caps for Germany.
“We’re very committed and try to introduce young talent, but also give them certain values. That’s very, very important to me.”
Regarding the DFB position, he added: “I haven’t been spoken to yet, so I don’t want to speculate. We’re all interested in German football and in having a lot to offer in the future.”
Mertesacker, 38, retired from playing at the end of the 2017-18 season after seven campaigns with Arsenal, and immediately took up his current role.
Germany’s football association, the DFB, recently announced a new advisory group to help the national team bounce back from their latest dismal World Cup performance.
It includes ex-Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, BVB adviser Matthias Sammer, Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff, current Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn and long-time Bayer Leverkusen managing director Rudi Voller.
The group will be led by DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and vice-chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke.
