Matthias Sammer's contract extended as sports director of German soccer federation

The German soccer federation extended the contract of sports director Matthias Sammer by two years on Saturday.

The new deal will keep Sammer with the federation until April 1, 2013. He oversees Germany's youth soccer and the training of coaches, and is the only person to have held the position since it was created in 2006.

"The contract extension is in my view a clear recognition of the work done for the federation and the position of sport director," Sammer said.

Sammer was a key player when Germany won the 1996 European Championship, and also helped lead Borussia Dortmund to the 1997 Champions League title. In 2002, he coached the club to the Bundesliga title.