The Federal Order of Merit went to 28 champions of democracy, including Jürgen Klopp. Kloppo showed humility among so many honorees such as Toni Krahl, Ute Mahler and Gerhard Polt.
Coach Jürgen Klopp was awarded the Federal Order of Merit before German Unity Day. Klopp was visibly moved to accept the award from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace. With the honor he feels “very humble today, as it should be, very small in the group of such extraordinary people with such extraordinary stories,” said Klopp after the award.
When he found out about the award, he asked himself: “Why me – and for what?” Finally he read the explanation and thought: “Okay, if that was necessary, then you can certainly see it that way,” said Klopp with a wink.
Jürgen Klopp recognized for his social commitment
The event was moderated by Tagesschau spokeswoman Susanne Daubner. Success and fame “never dissuaded the 57-year-old from paying attention to each individual athlete and seeing them as people,” said Daubner. Klopp has always been socially and socially committed. The former coach of FC Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Mainz 05 has become “a great role model for many – and an outstanding football ambassador far beyond the world of sport.”
In addition to Klopp, the Federal President honored a total of 28 citizens who support the values of democracy – be it in science, business, art or sport. The awarding of the Federal Order of Merit is a “holiday before the holiday,” said Steinmeier.
City singer Toni Krahl was also honored
But he also warned that today we can see “how liberal democracy is being attacked again, from outside as well as from within.” There are “electoral successes of political forces that despise the institutions of liberal democracy and spread misanthropy.” The Federal President emphasized that recognitions like this are all the more important. The people being honored today would show “how it is possible to bring the values of our democracy to life in practice.”
Many personalities with GDR roots were also honored. These include the photographer couple Ute and Werner Mahler – co-founders of the Ostkreuz photo agency – as well as the writers Lutz Seiler (“Kruso”), Helga Schubert (“On Getting Up. A Life in Stories”) and Barbara Honigmann (“Novel by a Child”). Toni Krahl, singer of the GDR band City for decades, was also honored. The Bavarian cabaret artist and author Gerhard Polt (82) was also pleased to receive an Order of Merit. The tradition of the Federal Order of Merit goes back to the former Federal President Gustav Heinemann. According to the Federal President’s Office, in 1973 Heinemann honored committed citizens for their social and community service.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
