The sacking of SpVgg Greuther Fürth sporting director Rachid Azzouzi final November left many Bundesliga lovers heavy-hearted. The eminently likable 54-year-old enjoys monumental respect in German footballing circles as an administrator with real ardour for German soccer.
In his place as a Fürth functionary (for the reason that finish of his taking part in profession in 2004) has at all times been an ardent defender of fifty+1, a powerful advocate for extra equitable media rights offers, and an vital voice on points threatening to over-commercialize the German recreation.
On many events, Azzouzi warned of the perils of permitting traders into the Bundesliga; particularly citing the English system as a foul precedent. In relation to the matter of German soccer’s stagnant promotion-relegation playoffs, nonetheless, Azzouzi not too long ago made clear that he prefers the English mannequin.
The subject of whether or not the present playoff system -in place because it was reinstated on the finish of the 2008/09 season – hasn’t produced a winner from the two. Bundesliga since Union Berlin defeated VfB Stuttgart on the finish of the 2018/19 marketing campaign.
Talking on one in every of Germany’s highest quantity podcasts (““) Azzouzi endorsed a swap to the English mannequin used within the EFL Championship and under: Promotion for the top-two second tier sides and playoffs for the ultimate relegation spot.
Azzouzi’s proposal however isn’t precisely like that used on the Isle. The underside three Premiership sides are robotically relegated. In Azzouzi’s plan, the Sixteenth-placed Bundesliga aspect would nonetheless compete in a semi-final spherical that featured the third, fourth, and fifth positioned 2. Bundesliga golf equipment.
Exactly as is the case in England, the 2 winners of the semi-final spherical would then meet in a grand Finale at one in every of Germany’s most well-known venues. Azzouzi even went as far as to counsel a German equal of Wembley: Both Köln’s RheinEnergieStadion or HSV’s Volksparkstadion.
Azzouzi’s concept, or comparable variants, have been put earlier than the DFL fee lately. The truth that Azzouzi used his celeb to convey the subject again to the forefront could doubtlessly assist get issues transferring. Borussia Dortmund – with Germany’s largest stadium – might additionally profit from internet hosting a Ultimate.
One facet of the German high division Azzouzi expressed assist for involved final 12 months’s (pejoratively titled) “Schneckenrennen um Europa” (“snail’s race for Europe”). Germans laughed at the truth that the Bundesliga’s eighth-placed crew earned a Convention League slot.
Azzouzi took a special take. In his opinion, the truth that mid-table sides have one thing to try for enhanced the latter levels of the league marketing campaign. The way during which issues unfolded late final 12 months ought to, per Azzouzi, be transferred to the second division.
“I feel it is smart,” the 54-year-old mentioned on the pod. ”Within the Bundesliga, the crew in tenth place may nonetheless have an opportunity of creating it to the worldwide stage. Within the second division, you don’t have that. That’s a disgrace.”
GGFN | Peter Weis