As the 2023 Walther Bensemann Prize winner, Karl-Heinz Körbel joins a list of world stars and legends. In the interview with kicker it becomes clear what makes the down-to-earth Bundesliga record player so special.
With the trophy, which he won four times: Walther Bensemann Prize winner Karl-Heinz Körbel. IMAGO/Sportfoto Pack
When Karl-Heinz Körbel found out that he had been chosen as the 2023 Walther Bensemann Prize winner by the jury of the German Academy for Football Culture, “I was a bit shocked,” says the Bundesliga record player (602 appearances). “Why me?” was Körbel’s first thought in view of the series of his legendary predecessors from Bobby Charlton, Bert Trautmann, Alfredo Di Stefano and Günter Netzer to Franz Beckenbauer.
On the other hand, he is “not a world champion, not a European champion, not a German champion,” emphasizes the 68-year-old, who played his entire professional career exclusively for Eintracht Frankfurt. And: “I was never a superstar.” It was precisely this down-to-earth attitude and other values that Körbel embodied throughout his life, apart from titles and triumphs on the pitch and off it, that were crucial for the jury.
Characterized by Fritz Walter, Uwe Seeler and Gerd Müller
In an exclusive interview with kicker (Monday edition), the award winner once again impressively reflects on how he became, what and who he is. And how, to this day, he continues to stand up for what was taught to him as right and important from a young age. In addition to his parents, Körbel’s character was also influenced by several of the greats of German football: “Uwe Seeler, Fritz Walter and Gerd Müller imparted values to me in personal conversations at a very young age,” he remembers. “That has influenced me my whole life.”
Football as a form of international understanding in the spirit of kicker founder Walther Bensemann – Körbel also had this experience as a teenager. “We had an Italian playing in Dossenheim, the son of the owner of the ice cream parlor. The Italians were outsiders in the town back then, but we welcomed him well. He was a great midfielder.” Körbel quickly called his teammate “Mazzola”, based on Sandro Mazzola from Inter Milan. From an early age he experienced “integration through football as something natural”.
“We must become braver to defend our values”
A UEFA Cup trip to Donetsk as an Eintracht professional later became an unforgettable experience for Körbel. “My father-in-law really wanted to come with his wife to see once again the place where his comrades and friends had died in the war. He was the only one who survived because he was flown home after being shot in the head.”
His father, father-in-law and grandfather made Körbel a political person, beyond party politics. “My father was impressed by Helmut Schmidt, and then I thought Franz-Josef Strauss and Helmut Kohl were cool.” What he appreciated about all three: “You had the feeling that if they said something, then it would be said.” Today, however, there is “too much wishy-washy” going on. Körbel sees loss of trust in politics as a great danger: “My grandfather warned about that, because that’s how it started back then (in the 20s and 30s, editor’s note) also on. Little by little, politics changed – until the takeover of power.” Körbel’s clear appeal: “We have to become more courageous to defend our values.”
Rudi Völler is a guarantee of credibility. He acts according to his convictions.
Role models are therefore immensely important, says Körbel, both in sport and in society. As the head of the Eintracht Frankfurt football school, this is something he sees first hand again and again: “It’s easy to underestimate it, but children look closely at what you do. It’s critically questioned, like with Randal Kolo Muani. The children came along their Kolo jerseys to the football school and asked us: Why is he leaving? Just because of the money? The children are then very disappointed that their idol is suddenly no longer there. This shows me how important our role models are.”
There are generally fewer of them in the football business than there used to be, explains Körbel, but certain names still come to mind. Eintracht captain Sebastian Rode, for example, Freiburg coach Christian Streich – and last but not least DFB sports director Rudi Völler. “Rudi is a guarantee of credibility,” praises Körbel. “I think it’s cool that he’s taking responsibility for German football in this situation before the EURO in his own country. It’s no coincidence that Rudi has initiated a real change in mood with a single international match against France. People simply believe him, too if, like all of us, he makes mistakes from time to time and overshoots the mark. Rudi is Rudi, that’s crucial. He acts according to his convictions and not based on how something is received by certain interest groups. We need exactly those people.”
Read the kicker interview on Monday (from Sunday evening also in eMagazine), what Körbel has in common with Felix Magath and Uli Hoeneß, why he also has a bit of a crush on FC Bayern, how he reconciled with Eintracht Frankfurt after a big disappointment and later even saved the club from forced relegation, what supposed luxury he had invested his first professional salary – and why, as a player for the traditional Eintracht team, he still clashes with referees today.
2023-10-21 13:19:34
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