Heynckes: “Löw showcased the fine art of coaching at the World Cup”

In an exclusive interview with DFB.de, coaching legend Jupp Heynckes spoke about the choice of the national team’s coach Joachim Löw as his successor as World Coach of the Year and Manuel Neuer’s third-place finish in the FIFA Ballon d'Or vote.

DFB.de: Mr. Heynckes, are you happy with your successor as World Coach of the Year?

Jupp Heynckes: For me there were two suitable candidates for this honour, Joachim Löw and Carlo Ancelotti. However, in a World Cup year there is actually only one option and that is the title-winning coach, meaning Joachim Löw. There isn’t more you can achieve with a national team. He did a fantastic job in Brazil and deserves to be World Coach of the Year.

DFB.de: How much of winning the title can be credited to Löw?

Heynckes: Even before the World Cup there were massive obstacles in putting together a team. Löw made clear and good decisions in assembling his squad; he knew who he could rely on. During the tournament itself, he showcased the fine art of coaching. He understood how to motivate even those players that had been injured for a long time, and how to integrate them. Everyone felt important; everyone knew that it was about the team as a whole. That’s what made Joachim Löw great. Germany won the World Cup because we had a team that was held together by its leading players, but even more so by its coach.

DFB.de: Does an important personal award like this one change a coach’s life?

Heynckes: It doesn’t change the person but it is an approval of his work, of a long career and its climax. You deal with an honour like that rather consciously, because you know that you also have to endure harder times as a coach.

DFB.de: What do you think about Manuel Neuer not becoming World Player of the Year?

Heynckes: I actually thought Manuel would win the Ballon d'Or. He isn’t just a goalkeeper but also a sweeper. And there hasn’t been a better one than Manuel since Franz Beckenbauer. He absolutely would have deserved this honour both as a footballer and as a person. However, Cristiano Ronaldo’s vote is also justified. He scores a lot of goals and is an exceptional forward. From internal sources I know that he is highly professional, trains hard, is committed and tremendously ambitious. And in the recent past, Cristiano Ronaldo has become even better.