This anniversary is a must for all football fans!
In the 100th episode of the BILD podcast “Phrasenmäher”, Bastian Schweinsteiger (39) talks about the most important moments of his career – and reveals…
► How his secret meeting with Thomas Tuchel went
Schweinsteiger: “It was nice to be able to exchange ideas in peace. Thomas is a trainer who impresses me with his ideas. When you see how the clubs he used to work for are doing today – whether it’s Dortmund, Paris or Chelsea – you can see a difference and that’s what distinguishes great coaches. I definitely trust him to shape an era at FC Bayern. He has the ability to deal well with big player personalities, he proved that at PSG with Mbappé and Neymar and you can also see at Bayern how Leroy Sané is willing to work under him at the back and thus make the whole team better. You can clearly see his handwriting.”
Photo: Wolf Lux
► Which football job would appeal to him
Schweinsteiger, who is currently a TV expert on ARD: “Perhaps in some capacity with the national team in the future I will be able to hold this golden World Cup trophy in my hands again.”
So would he be interested in replacing Rudi Völler (63) as DFB director after the home European Championship and preparing for the 2026 World Cup? “No. I’m not offering myself here, but what I would like to say is: It meant an awful lot to hold the trophy in my hands and bring it to Germany – that was the best feeling of my career. And being able to experience this moment again would be something very special for me, but it’s not happening at the moment.”
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► What it was like when Louis Van Gaal dropped his pants and showed his balls in a meeting at Bayern
Schweinsteiger: “He wanted to express that it is not always easy for him to nominate the first eleven. He’s just a real guy and what I really appreciate about him is that he has an incredibly big heart. I can remember: When he had to leave Bayern Munich and Manchester United and said goodbye to the players in the dressing room, he stood there and had tears in his eyes – because he loved what he did.”
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► For which he had to lend money to Oliver Kahn from time to time
Schweinsteiger: “Sometimes I had to lend Olli a little cash, so he still owes me a euro or two. We collected some money from FC Bayern after the away trips for the kit guards and the bus driver. Because I was the youngest, I always had to collect it and when I got to Olli in the last row they often said: ‘Can you borrow me a Fuffi?’”
► Why he was more nervous before meeting Ana Ivanovic for the first time than before the World Cup final
He met Ana Ivanovic for the first time in New York. His friend Steffen Hamann (ex-basketball star) was there and they came up with a code word. After greeting us, either Schweinsteiger says: “Come on, let’s go for a walk together.” Or he says: “Okay, see you later, Steffen.”
That’s how it happened!
Schweinsteiger: “I wasn’t that good at English when we met, so I listened to Ana a lot at the beginning. I was a bit on the defensive and saw what was coming.”
► When he realized that Ana was the woman of his life
“That was actually the case at first. You feel special moments and you can recognize them in love when you look deeply into someone’s eyes – and that’s exactly how it was with me.
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ana Ivanovic have been married since 2016
Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa
► How good is his Serbian?
Schweinsteiger: “I was able to score a few points with the family by asking Ana’s father for her hand in marriage in Serbian. I flew to Belgrade and asked.”
► How the Hollywood film “Notting Hill” inspired him to propose
The couple got married in Venice in 2016. Schweinsteiger’s idea for the marriage proposal was inspired by the film Notting Hill with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Schweinsteiger: “In London there are small parks that are only accessible to local residents. And then I secretly rented the park from the Notting Hill film. Of course I knew that Ana was extremely curious and when we walked past the gate was ajar and I said to her: Come on, let’s take a look! And then we went in there – and then I asked her. This came as a complete surprise to her.”
► Why he cried because of Uli Hoeneß
After the World Cup final, Schweinsteiger sent a greeting to Uli Hoeneß on the ARD microphone (“Without her, none of us would be here.”) The Bayern patron was in prison at the time, but later revealed: “At that moment it knocked me out of bed . One of the most impressive experiences I have ever had. That was – phew – unbelievable.”
Schweinsteiger: “When I saw his reaction in my documentary (“From Beginning to Legend” on Amazon/ed.), I had tears in my eyes. I didn’t realize how much that moved him. Uli Hoeneß was a very important man in my career. Of course he also said a few words to me if he didn’t like something, but he always had the dream that FC Bayern would have a lot of German national players and that’s exactly what we had in the final in Brazil. Without him it wouldn’t have worked. Of course he has also made mistakes in life, he knows that too – but you shouldn’t always just go for it. For me he is a personality that is unique. I take my hat off to what he has achieved.”
Is he using Hoeneß on a first-name basis today? Schweinsteiger: “I just call him ‘President’!”
Schweinsteiger a candidate Bayern boss is talking about returning
Source: BILD December 6th, 2023
► Whether it’s a good thing that Hoeneß is still involved so much in day-to-day business
Schweinsteiger: “I always think it’s important that you listen to Uli’s opinion – regardless of whether you go down that route or not.”
► Whether Max Eberl would be the right man as Bayern’s new sports director
“Max Eberl has proven that he can work very successfully. He knows the club, he knows the city and the country. Of course he would fit for FC Bayern!”
► How Ana lets him run during family tennis
Ana asks Schweinsteiger in Phrasenmäher if he can tell you what a typical tennis game between the two looks like?
“Twenty minutes before the game I step onto the pitch, do my exercises, tape my fingers so I don’t get blisters. Then I start the ball machine, play a few balls – and then she comes just in time to put her shoes on and it starts right away: I’m up 30-0 in every game.” And then?
Schweinsteiger: “Then she’ll let me go!” From left to right, from front to back – it’s brutal. I never thought there would be no chance for me. I then lose 1:6, 2:6 and always ask her afterwards: What percentage did you play? 70? 80? And then she laughs and says: 30! And what hurts the most: After we’ve played, she goes back to the gym and runs for 30 minutes so that she feels like she’s done exercise and I’m completely exhausted and have to eat and drink something straight away.
How many sets did he win against Ana? “None! It’s my big goal to get into the tiebreak at least once.”
Schweinsteiger in conversation with Phrasenmäher presenter Henning Stieft (l.)
Photo: Nadine Rupp
► What needs to change in the national team
Schweinsteiger: “Of course we are not the favorites or the top nation at the European Championships. But I am convinced that we will get to the semi-finals if – and I’m sorry, but it really is true – we get the German virtues. Playing football is all well and good. Our team has many players who can do that. But if you take a closer look at the 2-0 loss against Austria, you’ll know exactly what we’re still missing. German virtues must be a basic requirement, you can see that in other nations too – they don’t just play football. Especially the four teams in the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar – you can see what it means to the players to play for their country and wear the national jersey. That’s exactly where we need to get back and I hope that Julian manages to bring exactly that feeling back into the team.”
You can find the entire conversation in the phrase mower wherever podcasts are available. On Spotify, iTunes and Deezer, among others. It’s definitely worth listening to!
2023-12-19 15:09:48
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