By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Rumors of German national team coach Joachim Low possibly taking over at Spanish giants Real Madrid have gained significant traction in recent days. But what's behind the story?
In December last year, 58-year-old Low called the 2018 Champions League winners "an interesting club that is naturally attracting every coach." The 2014 World Cup-winning coach spoke about his future plan to return to club management after nearly 15 years within the apparatus of the German national team.
Real are struggling at present and said to be in a crisis after star forward Cristiano Ronaldo left for Juventus last summer. New coach Julen Lopetegui lasted only a few months after joining the club in July, being dismissed in October after a humiliating 5-1 defeat to rivals Barcelona.
Lopetegui's replacement Santiago Solari is said just to be an interim solution, and Real remain ten points behind leaders Barcelona in the league table.
But when will Low's long-running stint with the German national team come to an end?
Low has a contract with the German Football Association until 2022, but remains under pressure after his team's embarrassing group stage exit at last year's World Cup in Russia. His new deal is said to contain an exit clause.
Former Germany midfielder Bernd Schuster calls Low an interesting candidate for the Madrid job. "I wouldn't be surprised if Real try everything to get Low this summer," said Schuster, adding that he expected Real to invest heavily in new players this year.
Schuster, who currently coaches Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang, noted that Real are fond of German players and coaches. "Germany played attractive attacking football under Low. He won the 2014 World Cup. That is what counts for Real."
After a 13-year spell playing club football in Spain for Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, and also managing Real for a season and a half, Schuster is considered a leading authority on Spanish football, and gave his impression that Real president Florentino Perez was interested in hiring Low.
According to German media reports, however, it is unlikely that Low will leave the Germany post this summer.
Low has repeatedly stated his ambition to rebuild and rejuvenate his side after the Russia debacle and lead the team to qualify for Euro 2020, leading many to doubt whether the 58-year-old is read to return to club management.
Things could change if Low fails to deliver satisfactory results in Germany's next few games. In a recent fan survey, 41 percent of respondents said they no longer regarded Low as the best choice for the Germany post. It seems an open secret that famous clubs like Real or Manchester United would be Low's next choice.
