Hannelore Ratzeburg (DFB Vice President for Women’s Football): "2013 was a sensational year for women’s football. Our girls became European champions for the sixth time in succession. Our Under-17s also won the Euros and qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Costa Rica. The Under-20s are also going to be at the Under-20 World Cup in Canada too. We’ve also been successful at club level. VfL Wolfsburg won the treble and 1. FFC Potsdam reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League again. It’s really impressive. The B-Youth Bundesliga is in its second season now and we’ve had nothing but positive feedback from the clubs, as well as the regional and national associations. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved in women’s football this year."
Rainer Milkoreit (DFB Vice President for Grassroots Football): "If you ask me, the Champions League final in London has to be my highlight of 2013. We were there for the first ever final between two German teams. It was a high-quality game and was a justification of the decision the DFB and the DFL to set up youth academies at every Bundesliga club and to support the various regional associations. There could hardly have been a better example of the excellent youth work going on in German football. Of course I could name a number of other highlights, for example the handover of coaching licenses to the class of 2012/13 and the DFB coaching prize in March in Bonn, as well as the honorary appointments at the Germany-Austria international. The annual meeting of international coaches with representatives from the government and the DOSB also took place at the same time and that was really something."
Eugen Gehlenborg (DFB Vice President for Socio-Political Issues): "My highlight of 2013 was in Nuremberg – my appointment into the presidential board. Nothing can prepare you for when it actually happens. The nominations happen long before, but when they actually come to pass at the DFB Bundestag, it’s a very special moment in one’s life. I have to say, this is a task I’m approaching head-on, but also with the necessary humility. When you look at how many people look after football in this country and how many people are working hard, with enthusiasm, competence and creativity, it’s a huge responsibility. I’m very grateful – the vote in Nuremberg was definitely my highlight of 2013."
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As DFB.de looks back at some of the stories which made 2013 such a great year for German football, we present some of the DFB presidential board members’ personal highlights.
Wolfgang Niersbach (DFB President): "It’s a great honour to carry out the role of DFB President. I’m grateful for the unanimous decision in Nuremberg and for the trust both the professional and amateur divisions of the sport have placed in me. The vote shows that my style of leadership, as a team player, is still relevant. Football is a team sport on the field, but you need teamwork off it too. Solo efforts rarely, if ever, hit the target. For me, teamwork is the basis of football from top to bottom. This is our strength and with it we can overcome all future challenges."
Helmut Sandrock (DFB General Secretary): "The group stage draw for the 2014 World Cup really impressed me. Not just because it was a successful event, but also because it brought the tournament even closer. It built up the excitement and reminded me of when we organised the 2006 World Cup. It was all very positive. As far as I’m concerned, we can get started!"
Reinhard Grindel (DFB Treasurer): "The unanimous decision at the Bundestag in Nuremberg was certainly my personal highlight. That said, on the way home my four-year-old son asked me: “Daddy, when are you going to set up my train set?” That brought me back down to earth. Away from success in your career, perhaps those are the real highlights - family moments which make you realise that they’re the most important thing in life."
Dr Rainer Koch (1. DFB Vice President Amateur, Legal and Statutory): "Looking back on the year 2013 in my capacity as National Association President, I think of the 3,261 new laptops we distributed for the improved processing of Electronic Match Reports, Pass-Online and the Live Ticker. We want to modernise and reach the youth of today with a digital medium they’re familiar with. I look back with fondness on the Bavarian Prize for Sport 2013 for BFV.TV, which has become the best-known internet sports show in Germany. I think of the FC Bayern München versus Bayern XI benefit match and all the other campaigns to help the flood victims in Bavaria, as well as the start of the amateur football festival in Bavaria, not to mention the 2015 Football Olympics in Landshut and the Fairplay Munich integration project. The DFB Bundestag re-elected Wolfgang Niersbach into office and handed me a new role as 1st DFB Vice President for Amateur Football, National and Regional Associations, which is important for the whole of amateur football. We can look back on FC Bayern München’s treble with pride, as well as the German women’s national team’s European Championship title."
Dr Hans-Dieter Drewitz (DFB Vice President for Youth Football): "The yearly trip to Israel with the Under-18 national team is always a special experience for me. It’s the only time we get the chance to make a cultural and socio-political difference whilst striving for sporting success. The junior national team players visited the historic city of Jerusalem together with Israel’s Yad Vashem squad and got to know the country and its people. It fills me with great pleasure that this event has turned into more than just a partnership over the past few years and more into a friendship."
Peter Frymuth (DFB Vice President for Match Operations and Football Development): “As I travel a lot, the two-week summer break with my family is always special. Of course being elected President of the Niederrhein Football Association was my personal highlight of 2013 – as well as my new role as DFB Vice President. I was thrilled to get stuck in to my new tasks.”
Ronny Zimmermann (DFB Vice President for Education):
"Football has given me a number of highlights in 2013. I’m very proud of the Baden-Baden Association Day, which went really well. Obviously I would be lying if I didn’t say my unanimous election onto the DFB presidential board. Best of all, though, is that my family is healthy. I’m very grateful for that and certainly don’t take it for granted."
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Hannelore Ratzeburg (DFB Vice President for Women’s Football): "2013 was a sensational year for women’s football. Our girls became European champions for the sixth time in succession. Our Under-17s also won the Euros and qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Costa Rica. The Under-20s are also going to be at the Under-20 World Cup in Canada too. We’ve also been successful at club level. VfL Wolfsburg won the treble and 1. FFC Potsdam reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League again. It’s really impressive. The B-Youth Bundesliga is in its second season now and we’ve had nothing but positive feedback from the clubs, as well as the regional and national associations. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved in women’s football this year."
Rainer Milkoreit (DFB Vice President for Grassroots Football): "If you ask me, the Champions League final in London has to be my highlight of 2013. We were there for the first ever final between two German teams. It was a high-quality game and was a justification of the decision the DFB and the DFL to set up youth academies at every Bundesliga club and to support the various regional associations. There could hardly have been a better example of the excellent youth work going on in German football. Of course I could name a number of other highlights, for example the handover of coaching licenses to the class of 2012/13 and the DFB coaching prize in March in Bonn, as well as the honorary appointments at the Germany-Austria international. The annual meeting of international coaches with representatives from the government and the DOSB also took place at the same time and that was really something."
Eugen Gehlenborg (DFB Vice President for Socio-Political Issues): "My highlight of 2013 was in Nuremberg – my appointment into the presidential board. Nothing can prepare you for when it actually happens. The nominations happen long before, but when they actually come to pass at the DFB Bundestag, it’s a very special moment in one’s life. I have to say, this is a task I’m approaching head-on, but also with the necessary humility. When you look at how many people look after football in this country and how many people are working hard, with enthusiasm, competence and creativity, it’s a huge responsibility. I’m very grateful – the vote in Nuremberg was definitely my highlight of 2013."
