At the beginning of 2020, Bastian Schweinsteiger, one of the most successful footballers in German history, ended his career. He won more than 15 important titles with FC Bayern alone, won the Europa League with Manchester United and the 2014 World Cup with the DFB team. The former midfield star does not lack experience, but Schweinsteiger has so far refrained from returning to football – that could change.
In the “Bild” podcast Phrasenmäher was confronted with the question of which job in football might appeal to him in the future, Schweinsteiger replied: “Perhaps in some capacity with the national team in the future to hold this golden World Cup trophy in his hands again.”
However, Schweinsteiger did not want his statement to be understood as a concrete offer to inherit DFB sports director Rudi Völler after the home European Championship in 2024: “No. I’m not offering myself here now, but what I want to say is: It’s scary “It means a lot to hold the trophy in my hands and bring it to Germany – that was the best feeling of my career. And to be able to experience that moment again would be something very special for me, but it’s not happening at the moment.”
“Playing football is all well and good”
For the time being, the closest point of contact with the DFB team remains the position of TV expert. Schweinsteiger accompanies the DFB games for ARD. Despite the recent poor results, Schweinsteiger believes that we can go far at the European Championships – under one condition: “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 we – and I’m sorry, but it really is – the German virtues are brought in,” emphasizes Schweinsteiger.
And further: “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 0-2 loss against Austria, you know exactly what we are still missing. The German virtues have to be the basic requirement You can also see it in other nations – they don’t just play football.”