He became world champion in 1990 and European champion with Germany in 1996. He is a Berliner through and through, which is why he is nicknamed “Icke”. BILD met Thomas Häßler (55), who is now a coach in Berlin’s 7th division, for an interview in 3 parts.
BILD: Mr. Häßler, congratulations on the autumn championship! Are you leading the BFC Preussen back into the Berlin League?
Häßler: “Thank you! That would be very nice. We want to stay at the top until the end, but we also have to play such a good second half for that. We are no longer the hunters, but the hunted. I am very satisfied with the preliminary round, which was great! I’m proud of how the team played, presented itself and mastered all the special circumstances. “
BILD: You mean the Corona circumstances?
Häßler: “Before the season, we had eight months of rest and had to train very carefully at first. In addition, there were many breaks and interruptions in the schedule, also due to snowfall. But Corona provided the craziest stories. “
Photo: Thiemo Napierski
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/wat-willste-da-machen–weltmeister-icke-haessler-ueber-verrueckte-corona-herauslösungen-im-fussbal-c33e124fadb44dd3b2b991a26fb5d23d-78676526 /Bild/3.bild.jpg “/> “What do you want to do?” World champion “Icke” Häßler on crazy corona challenges in footballPhoto: Thiemo Napierski
BILD: Tell us about it …
Häßler: “For the first time in my long career as a player and coach, in which I really experienced almost everything, I had to hold a team meeting outside – and that in wet and cold weather. Because some of my players and I weren’t vaccinated at the time. You then come to an away game and the unvaccinated have to change in the car, the vaccinated in the cabin. Then I held the fastest meeting of my life outside. I have never experienced something like that. And that was just before the game … “
BILD: And what happened next?
Häßler: “At half-time, the vaccinated players and my vaccinated assistant coach Thorben Marx went up to the dressing room. I held the meeting with the unvaccinated outside again. These players then had to take a shower at home after the game. “
BILD: Are you and all the players vaccinated now?
Häßler: “I am vaccinated and, as far as I know, all the players have been vaccinated.”
BILD: How do you feel about vaccination? “
Häßler: “We used to be vaccinated against everything. This is a spade that also serves the general public. Ultimately, however, everyone has to decide for themselves. At first I wanted to wait and see how the situation would turn out after a certain amount of time. In the end I had to do it because I want to continue doing my job as a coach here. Footballers are together almost every day, training, traveling and playing together. If the vaccination helps the safety and health of all players and those in charge plus all the people around them, that is a good thing and must be done. “
Photo: BFC Preussen
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/mit-preussen-nach-oben-trainer-haessler-l–pierre-seiffert-m–sportlicher-leiter-co-trainer- thorb-47900da6815f4101a4ecd102609cfe79-78676572 / image / 3.image.jpg “/> With Prussia up: Trainer Häßler (left), Pierre Seiffert (center, sports director), assistant trainer Thorben MarxPhoto: BFC Preussen
BILD: You have a contract until 2025! Where should the journey go by then?
Häßler: “I am very happy here. When you come to the club complex here – it’s all just Prussia. Like a big family. We have great youth work, from which we want to and will benefit greatly in the future. In the long run, it would be nice if one day we could become the fourth force in Berlin (behind Hertha, Union and Viktoria 89 – editor’s note). That would be one of my goals. “
BILD: Sounds like more Prussian years …
Häßler laughs: “I can work in peace and quiet, I feel very good. As far as I am concerned, you can still attach a 5-year contract. “
In part 2 of the world championship interview, Häßler reveals what he thinks about national coach Hansi Flick and the World Cup in Qatar.
