Germany's new women's head coach Steffi Jones said Wednesday that she plans to lift the European title next year to build on their gold at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The 43-year-old ex-midfielder, who won 111 caps for Germany, has replaced Silvia Neid, who stepped down last Friday at the Rio Games after 11 successful years.

Germany handed Neid the perfect send off by winning the women's football Olympic gold for the first time thanks to a 2-1 win over Sweden at Rio's Maracana.

Victory gave Neid a golden goodbye in her last game after a successful reign, which included winning the 2007 World Cup, plus the 2009 and 2013 European championships.

The inexperienced Jones, who is preparing to take charge for the first time in next month's European qualifiers against Russia and Hungary, says her target is to win the women's Euro 2017 title in the Netherlands next August.

"If we're going to do something, we'll do it right. And that's why we want the title at the European championships next year," said Jones in Frankfurt.

Since retiring in 2007, Jones helped organise the 2011 women's World Cup in Germany and studied for her coaching licence. But with no previous experience as a head coach, filling Neid's shoes will be a big test for her.

"It's a burden that I have already known about for a while, I know what I can do and I would not have taken the job if I thought I couldn't have done it," she said.

"For me, it's a dream job.

"I don't want to follow in Silvia's footsteps, but successfully continue her work with my own signature, as Steffi Jones."

Jones is a dual German and American citizen, the daughter of a German mother and US soldier, who was raised in Frankfurt.

She was part of the squad which won the women's World Cup in 2003 and won Olympic bronze with Germany in 2000 and 2004.