Per Mertesacker is expected to take up a role on the expert advisory board for the German national team, according to general manager Oliver Bierhoff.

Speaking to Bild, Bierhoff confirmed that they’d offered Mertesacker the job on the board. The 34-year-old is reportedly looking forward to getting started and taking on the new challenge.

“Per will be part of the new expert advisory board,” Bierhoff said. “Per is very much looking forward to the future task, has many interesting views and expresses his opinion.”

Of course, Mertesacker has only recently taken on the job of manager at the Arsenal Academy. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem as if taking this new role with the national team will require him to leave his current one with the Gunners.

The impact that holding both positions at once has on Mertesacker’s success in each role remains to be seen.

Right now, things are going pretty well for the academy. The u18s are second in the league, although they do need to deal with the loss of coach Kwame Ampadu to Monaco. Meanwhile, the u23s are also second in their league, only behind Everton on goal difference. Plus, the u21s won their first Checkatrade trophy match against Coventry.

Hopefully, Mertesacker is ready to deal with any future challenges that come Arsenal’s way.