Jones told ARD radio Tuesday that she could run for the top job if the DFB is ready to undergo a full reform after various affairs which prompted the last three DFB presidents to resign.

“If the DFB is really interested in a renewal, is really looking to get rid of its legacy issues and to build something new, then I would be happy to be there,” Jones said.

“Then of course I could also imagine becoming DFB president with a strong team.”

Looking at the status of equality in the DFB, Jones added: “It is something that surprises me very much because the DFB even has it in its statutes, but does not live it! It is shameful.”

Jones, 48, is a 111-time capped international, coached the women’s team 2016-2018 and chaired the organizing committee for the 2011 women’s World Cup in Germany. She was also DFB director of women’s and school football in the past.

The new DFB president is elected in March. One of the two interim presidents, Peter Penders, and a regional federation chief, Bernd Neuendorf, are set to run for the top job in succession of Fritz Keller.

The DFB is the largest single sports federation in the world with more than 7 million members. It has never had a female president.

A women’s initiative named Football Can Do More will meanwhile at least for now not nominate a candidate of its own, co founders Katja Kraus and Almut Schuld told the website of Zeit magazine.

“I have the impression that almost 100 per cent of those interested in football want a renewal of the DFB. But that 17 [regional] federation presidents, all of them men, decide that everything is to continue as before,” former SV Hamburg top official Kraus said.