Philip Köster: "It's a sense of belonging, of community"

Round about 50,000 members have joined the fan club of the German national team powered by Coca-Cola. But there are many more supporters keeping their fingers crossed for Germany, including quite a number of people who have attained VIP status in completely different walks of life. To mark the tenth anniversary of the national team fan club, the "Celebrity Fans" section has been created on DFB.de as a forum for them to talk about their passion for soccer.

Philip Köster loves surfing - and, above all, he does it quite well. So well, actually, that he has been crowned PWA wave world champion not just once but even twice, defending, in 2012, the title he first won in 2011. At that time he was 17 years old. He is the second youngest World Champion - after windsurfing legend Robby Naish.

Born on the island of Gran Canaria, where he also lives, the young world champion has one up over his soccer-playing peers and compatriots. But they could follow in his footsteps next year at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Philip Köster will be watching from afar. In this interview with DFB editor Niels Barnhofer he talks about Hamburg, Gran Canaria, Fiji, Maui, Spain and Brazil.

fanclub.dfb.de: Philip Köster, how does someone who works on the beach, manage to stay alive over the winter?

Philip Köster: I live on Gran Canaria and there, even in winter, it is possible to surf - not windsurfing. Sometimes you have strong wind which is just right to train slalom or wave riding. But in the winter I have a little bit more time that I can spend with my friends. So I recently had the opportunity to complete a scuba-diving course. I also use the winter time to fly a bit around the world, for example I've just come back from Maui. And I was also in Bad Ischgl for snowboarding.

fanclub.dfb.de: You make us jealous: You work at places where others would like to go on vacation. Which surf spots in the world do you go to in the winter?

Philip Köster: I'm mainly in Australia and on Maui. But I haven't been to Fiji yet, so that would be great place to visit.

fanclub.dfb.de: You make a good impression on the snowboard as well. How often does that happen?

Philip Köster: I just learned snowboarding this winter in Bad Ischgl at an event staged by one of the sponsors. I had a personal coach assigned for two days. That was pretty good. From now on I really would like to go snowboarding every winter.

fanclub.dfb.de: You already try some breakneck stunts in the snow. Are surfing and snowboarding so similar?

Philip Köster: No, actually not, but I kind of love jumping, regardless of whether it’s windsurfing, surfing or snowboarding. Somehow, there's this constant urge inside me to jump in the air. It's just that when you go snowboarding, the landings are definitely more painful and sometimes I miss the sail as a stabilizer.

fanclub.dfb.de: You are also the Canarian Champion in freestyle swimming. What other athletic talents do you also have?

Philip Köster: I am interested in many sports, but SUP (N.B: stand up surfing), surfing and swimming are my passion. So I do prefer water sports. But sometimes I like to do some biking or jogging too.

fanclub.dfb.de: What about football?

Philip Köster: At school I played a lot of football, but right now I've hardly any time for that.

fanclub.dfb.de: Have you ever wondered what would have happened if you had been raised near to a football pitch in Hamburg?

Philip Köster: Yes, I might perhaps have become a footballer. When you're close to the action and see as a young boy how fascinating team sport can be, I'm sure I would have loved to join a club. And let's not forget: footballers sometimes jump quite high indeed. Last year in the ZDF-sports-studio I put away two shots neatly. So maybe I have some talent. (N.B.: he refers to a popular Saturday night TV sports programme featuring a wooden goal with holes sawn into the bottom right and top left corners; guests have three tries for either corner, no-one has ever scored six out of six)

fanclub.dfb.de: So you grew up on the rugged coast of Gran Canaria, and football plays only a minor role in your life. Your football interest is focused on the German national team. Why is that?

Philip Köster: There is a special sense of belonging, of community that arises when Germany play. The team unites the best football players of the country. Most games are incredibly exciting, so you cheer and keep your fingers crossed.

fanclub.dfb.de: How intensively do you follow the DFB-Team?

Philip Köster: My Spanish friends are all real football fiends. They know a lot more about football than I do. They keep me up to date.

fanclub.dfb.de: Do you own a jersey of the national team or other Fan stuff?

Philip Köster: Unfortunately, no, thats something I don't have.

fanclub.dfb.de: You were born in Las Palmas on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria. Does that make you something of a closet supporter of the Spanish national team?

Philip Köster: Well, they are a high-class act, but my heart really beats for the German team. When the Spanish team plays, I look more at the individual players, but when the German team plays the overall performance of the team is important to me. But I have great admiration and respect for both teams.

fanclub.dfb.de: Spain and Germany are currently among the strongest nations in football. For whom would you keep your fingers crossed, if it came to a direct contest at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil?

Philip Köster: The German team.

fanclub.dfb.de: For the footballers, the 2014 World Cup is the next big target. What kind of highlights are you looking for?

Philip Köster: The season starts next summer. I’m also looking forward to the next World Cup. I have to train hard and want to learn new moves for this. Otherwise, I had a few photo sessions and some television appearances this winter.