“Football a simple game”
© Imago
Trainer Dieter Hecking is critical of modern development in scientific trainer work. “I am rather skeptical of many things that we could use. I look at the data that is made available to us, but I think that the handling of this material is generally not yet mature,” said VfL Bochum’s head coach of the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung”.
It is often difficult to conclusively combine the statement of the data and human perception. “Football is still a simple game for me,” said Hecking. Nevertheless, the 60-year-old believes that the development can no longer be stopped. “I am already sure that things like game data or artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly influential. Nobody will prevent that. I am also curious to see when the AI really influences the game,” said Hecking.
He would probably no longer have to deal with it. “I assume that I will no longer be in the operational business and believe that I am also glad that I am not happy to do this development,” said the Bochum coach. Hecking has extended his contract with the district club at risk of relegation in the event that VfL remains in the Bundesliga. However, this does not mean that he will definitely go in the event of relegation. “I just think it would not be good if I am already dealing with a contract for the second division,” he said.