Freund joins Tottenham staff
July 11, 2012
Germany youth coach Steffen Freund has joined the coaching staff at London's Tottenham Hotspur. The former German international midfielder spent five seasons at the club.
"We are delighted to announce the appointment of former player Steffen Freund as our new Assistant Head Coach," the club said in a statement, calling him a "popular figure amongst our supporters."
Prior to taking the position, Freund served as the Under-16s coach for the German national football team. As a player, he was part of Germany's 1996 European Championship-winning squad.
"We can understand that he is now seeking a new challenge after three years as a youth team coach," said Helmut Sandrock, general secretary of the German Football Association (DFB).
Freund, 42, played 120 games for Tottenham after joining them from Borussia Dortmund in 1998. He won the League Cup in 1999, and was inducted into the club's hall of fame. He joins the coaching staff of manager Andre Villas-Boas.
Villas-Boas took over for English coach Harry Redknapp last month. The Portuguese coach previously served as manager of Chelsea before being sacked in March.
dr/ng (AFP, dpa, Reuters)