According to Sport1, Bayern Munich's honorary president Uli Hoeneß is pushing for Per Mertesacker to take a position at the German Football Association.
Hoeness told Bild: "If you've been at Arsenal for eight years, it means you have the ability, and that's exactly what we need now."
Hoeneß also said that 41-year-old Mertesacker, as a former professional player, has "a wealth of international experience." He said, "He has always known how to get along with people. And he would never do this for money, but because he is eager to build and drive something with his passion. We need people like that now—those who have worked their way up step by step and are willing to work hard."
The 74-year-old Bayern Munich legend also praised Mertesacker's performance as a television expert at ZDF. He said, "Every word Per Mertesacker said on television carried weight. He never offended anyone, yet remained sharp."
Mertesacker had previously stated his willingness to take a position at the German Football Association (DFB) in the rebuilding process following Germany's World Cup defeat. He said, "It's very appealing to work for the DFB one day and give back to German football, from which I have benefited so much. I'm certainly willing to help with that."
Mertesacker, the 2014 World Cup winner, successfully managed Arsenal's youth academy for eight years. A similar position will soon become vacant at the German Football Association: Andreas Reitich, the sporting director in charge of the national team and youth development, will leave his post at the end of the year.
