Bernd Neuendorf will continue as the president of the German Football Federation (DFB) for another four years.

The 64-year-old was the only candidate in Friday’s election amid widespread praise for the job he has done since the scandal-hit tenures of predecessors Fritz Keller, Reinhard Grindel, Wolfgang Niersbach and Theo Zwanziger.

Neuendorf took over in 2022 after running the Middle Rhine regional football association. He was previously a politician in the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia.

“The future begins now,” he announced at the 45th Ordinary Congress of the world’s largest sports federation in Frankfurt.

After turbulent years of “consolidation and transformation”, which Neuendorf described as a “successful root canal treatment,” the DFB boss wants in his second term to shape a vision more than administer.

“We are now entering a new phase. We want to move forward boldly - and to do so stringently and in a planned manner,” he proclaimed.

“We have stabilized and consolidated the DFB in every respect — atmosphere, finances, substance and sport. The DFB has restored its reputation. It is once again perceived as a reliable player,” Neuendorf told the 253 delegates in the event hall at the DFB campus.

Zwanziger and Niersbach became tarred by allegations Germany bought the rights to host the 2006 World Cup. They have denied any wrongdoing.

Grindel quit after accepting a luxury watch as a gift from an oligarch and Keller was forced out after comparing a fellow DFB official to a Nazi-era judge.

There has been no scandal around Neuendorf although the national teams have largely struggled during his reign. Germany - in an unusual joint bid with the Dutch and Belgians - also missed out to Brazil in bidding for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

Germany is targeting the women’s Euros in 2029 having successfully hosted the men’s edition last year.