Löw further extends Germany agreement

Joachim Löw and his Germany coaching team have extended their contracts by two years until after the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The 51-year-old's existing deal, signed in the summer, was due to expire at the end of UEFA EURO 2012. But the German Football Association (DFB) has moved to tie up the futures of Löw, his assistant Hansi Flick, goalkeeping coach Andreas Köpke and team manager Oliver Bierhoff.

Löw has worked for the DFB since 2004, assisting Jürgen Klinsmann for two years before taking the helm and leading Germany to the UEFA EURO 2008 final and the 2010 World Cup bronze medal. Germany top UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group A with four wins from four games, and hope for a fifth against Kazakhstan in Kaiserslautern on 26 March.

DFB president Dr Theo Zwanziger said: "These harmonious contract talks showed once again how great our mutual trust is. This respectful and open relationship is the best basis for continuing our successful partnership in the future.

"I wish Joachim Löw and the entire staff, including manager Oliver Bierhoff, a lot of success with this young, promising team in the current qualification campaign, the upcoming European Championship in Poland and Ukraine, as well as the World Cup in Brazil."

Löw, who had been linked with FC Bayern München by the media after it was announced Louis van Gaal would leave that club in June, added: "I am happy we could agree early on about a continuation of our work until the 2014 World Cup. Hansi Flick, Andreas Köpke, Oliver Bierhoff and I are really enjoying this exciting work.

"We believe in the quality of our players and we think our team have good prospects. That is why we gladly accepted the DFB's offer of an extension. The fact negotiations were completed within just a few days shows how great the mutual trust is."