# German national ice hockey coaching change

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/german-national-ice-hockey-coaching-change
> Updated: 2026-09-21T17:16:54.000Z. Sources: 29. Developments: 2.

André Rankel has been appointed as the new head coach of the German national ice hockey team. The 40-year-old, a former national player and long-time captain of Eisbären Berlin, succeeds Harold Kreis, who was dismissed following disappointing tournament results.

Rankel, who has served as an assistant coach for Eisbären Berlin since 2023, has signed a four-year contract. His primary objective is to prepare the national team for the 2027 Home World Championship. His first assignment will be leading the team at the Deutschland Cup in Düsseldorf this November.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-21: German football sees coaching changes at Hansa Rostock and Hannover 96

German football sees major coaching changes as André Breitenreiter joins Hansa Rostock and Sandro Wagner takes over at Hannover 96, alongside various league updates and disciplinary news.

14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hansa-rostock-appoints-andr-breitenreiter-as-new-head-coach

### 2026-08-25: André Rankel appointed as German national ice hockey head coach

André Rankel, a former Eisbären Berlin player and assistant coach, has been named the new head coach of the German national ice hockey team, succeeding Harold Kreis ahead of the 2027 Home World Championship.

19 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-ice-hockey-federation-finds-successor-to-harold-kreis

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Cite as: German national ice hockey coaching change. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/german-national-ice-hockey-coaching-change