Just nine months before hosting Euro 2024, Germany has decided to part ways with coach Hansi Flick.

This follows their humiliating 4-1 defeat to Japan on Saturday, as announced by the German FA (DFB).

The dismissal of Flick represents a historic moment, as it makes him the first and only German head coach to be sacked since the position’s establishment in 1926.

Sporting director Rudi Voeller, renowned for coaching the side to a 2002 World Cup final against Brazil, will step in on an interim basis.

German FA boss Bernd Neuendorf justified the decision, citing the “unavoidable” nature of the sacking due to the team’s recent string of “disappointing” results.

“With a view towards the European championships in our own country, we need a spirit of optimism and confidence”, saying the decision was one of his “most difficult so far.”

The Samurai Blue decisively outplayed the Germans on their home turf in Wolfsburg during the friendly match. Only the acrobatics of Marc-Andre ter Stegen prevented the scoreline from surpassing the 5-1 loss to England in Munich back in 2001.

Since their premature World Cup exit in December, Germany has now suffered defeat in four out of their six matches.

At halftime, the home crowd expressed their dissatisfaction with the German team, with some even chanting “Hansi out” at the conclusion of the match.

Rudi Völler, Hannes Wolf and Sandro Wagner will now take charge of the German national team for Tuesday’s friendly against France.

“The aim is to find a replacement for Hansi Flick as quickly as possible”, DFB statement confirms.

Potential candidates for the position include former Bayern Munich coaches Jupp Heynckes and Julian Nagelsmann, with Eintracht Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner also under early consideration.