DFB.de: As a youth team coach you are responsible for the development of youngsters. Are there any useful tips in your book for them?
Hrubesch: It doesn’t say how you should play football in my book, but rather how you can live your life in a good way. I always say: "That which is perfect can always be made better. Something which does not progress regresses."
DFB.de: In the coming year the Olympic games will be held in Rio de Janeiro and you will be there with the U21s. It is the first time a German national team has taken part in the Olympics since 1988. How big is the anticipation of the competition?
Hrubesch: After the European Championship title win in 2009 I actually wanted to step down, but when the question arose of whether I would remain in charge, I accepted because of the opportunity to play at the Olympics. I have played in everything; the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup, with the national team, but never the Olympics. I was very excited about it and thought it would be a great way to finish for me. We don’t know what team we’re going to take, but we’ve decided we want to go to win. Nothing else makes sense. Whether we will get a medal is yet to be seen.
The name Horst Hrubesch stands for success, his most successful period being between 1978 and 1983 while he was at Hamburg. In this time he won three championships, a European Championship, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over Belgium, and came runner-up in the World Cup in 1982. After his playing career, the aerial powerhouse has gone on to manage the U19s and U21s to European Championship titles.
On Monday Horst Hrubesch’s biography will be published. We caught up with him and in an interview he spoke a bit about it, what it says about his life and his current management activities.
DFB.de: A biography gives the chance recall your own life. Which parts have particularly influenced you?
Hrubesch: The way I have lived is unbelievable. I mean, what am I doing here? I have only played football. I have got to know people like Helmut Schmidt and the pope. As a football player, you don’t have time to reflect. Whether it’s my time at Hamburg or with the national team, time passes like a film.
DFB.de: And when you reflect now?
Hrubesch: I have lived a very interesting life. I was never obsessed with making history. But it is nice to leave something behind.
DFB.de: The book takes a look at your current activities as a DFB coach. How much has football changed since you played?
Hrubesch: The main principle in football is this: You do what’s fun. You compete with others and want to win. Every team must be a community of purpose. Individuals can be as good as they want, but will achieve nothing on their own. That’s the case today, and it was the same in my time 30 years ago.
DFB.de: As a youth team coach you are responsible for the development of youngsters. Are there any useful tips in your book for them?
Hrubesch: It doesn’t say how you should play football in my book, but rather how you can live your life in a good way. I always say: "That which is perfect can always be made better. Something which does not progress regresses."
DFB.de: In the coming year the Olympic games will be held in Rio de Janeiro and you will be there with the U21s. It is the first time a German national team has taken part in the Olympics since 1988. How big is the anticipation of the competition?
Hrubesch: After the European Championship title win in 2009 I actually wanted to step down, but when the question arose of whether I would remain in charge, I accepted because of the opportunity to play at the Olympics. I have played in everything; the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup, with the national team, but never the Olympics. I was very excited about it and thought it would be a great way to finish for me. We don’t know what team we’re going to take, but we’ve decided we want to go to win. Nothing else makes sense. Whether we will get a medal is yet to be seen.
