DFB.de: Can you imagine a life without football?
Rutemöller: ...No, not at all...
DFB.de: ... just imagine?
Rutemöller: Impossible. I watch FC at home whenever they’re playing and watch all the others on television as I’m a bit mad. A life without football is unimaginable for me!
DFB.de: If you look at your CV, you could say that you’re roles have become more exciting as you’ve grown older. You recently did something in Afghanistan.
Rutemöller: That was a really big challenge that gave me a lot of joy. Wolfgang Niersbach let me know about this role. It was a big deal. Those at the Afghanistan Football Association were searching for a German coach as both their head coaches were suspended for insulting the officials. I was entrusted to take care of the national side at a tournament in the Maldives. It was great to see how the lads applied themselves on the pitch. It really impressed me.
DFB.de: You previously had a role at the Iranian Football Association. How did that come about?
Rutemöller: I was an adviser for national team head coach Ali Daei. The Iranians are really mad about their football. Unfortunately we lost the decider for the World Cup 2-1 after going ahead 1-0 to South Korea in 2009 in front of around 100,000 spectators. President Mahmut Ahmadineschad was in the stands at the time. We didn’t qualify for the 2010 World Cup because of the loss. Ali Daei was let go and was it a bitter end to an impressive period.
He celebrates his birthday today. Erich Rutemöller turns 70 years old. The former head of the football coach’s training and former DFB youth coach spoke to DFB.de on how he will spend his day and why he won’t celebrate the milestone that much.
Rutemöller also looks back on an impressive as a coach and touches upon his duties for the Afghanistan and Iranian football associations.
DFB.de: Mr Rutemöller, you celebrate your 70th birthday...
Erich Rutemöller: Oh yeah, don’t remind me please – what a sad reason for this interview.
DFB.de: Do you really see it that way?
Rutemöller: No, no, I was joking. It’s okay. My sister is ten years younger and will turn 60 soon. She’s lately started using the word ‚fear of entering a place‘. I think that it works well. I don’t have any real fear but have some respect. Then you reach a new barrier – I’m no longer in my 60s, but now in my 70s. I’m still happy though that I don’t feel that old. I’m on the move and always do little pitches here and there for DFB. I was working Asia in December and for UEFA in Turkey in January. That keeps me young.
DFB.de: How long do you want to continue doing that?
Rutemöller: For as long as i can. I don’t want to set any limit for myself. I’m happy and grateful that I’m still doing well. I enjoy travelling. I enjoy to be on the move lots.
DFB.de: Can you imagine a life without football?
Rutemöller: ...No, not at all...
DFB.de: ... just imagine?
Rutemöller: Impossible. I watch FC at home whenever they’re playing and watch all the others on television as I’m a bit mad. A life without football is unimaginable for me!
DFB.de: If you look at your CV, you could say that you’re roles have become more exciting as you’ve grown older. You recently did something in Afghanistan.
Rutemöller: That was a really big challenge that gave me a lot of joy. Wolfgang Niersbach let me know about this role. It was a big deal. Those at the Afghanistan Football Association were searching for a German coach as both their head coaches were suspended for insulting the officials. I was entrusted to take care of the national side at a tournament in the Maldives. It was great to see how the lads applied themselves on the pitch. It really impressed me.
DFB.de: You previously had a role at the Iranian Football Association. How did that come about?
Rutemöller: I was an adviser for national team head coach Ali Daei. The Iranians are really mad about their football. Unfortunately we lost the decider for the World Cup 2-1 after going ahead 1-0 to South Korea in 2009 in front of around 100,000 spectators. President Mahmut Ahmadineschad was in the stands at the time. We didn’t qualify for the 2010 World Cup because of the loss. Ali Daei was let go and was it a bitter end to an impressive period.
DFB. You are and have been abroad lots. What importance does German football have there?
Rutemöller: It’s unbelievable to see how stronger it’s got since 2010. Winning the World Cup last summer just crowned everything. I’m always asked what we do and just how we’re so successful and where we get the young players from.
DFB.de: And what do you reply?
Rutemöller: I always emphasise in my talks that the triumph was built on three main pillars. The first is the competition system – determined on age and the development of the youth players, for example the A and B junior Bundesliga. The second are the talent promotion measures. And the third is the coach’s education. You truly have to say that DFB play a role model role abroad. The whole world looks towards Germany at the moment. And that hasn’t always been the case.
