Jogi Löw: The ever underestimated is 65

Joachim Löw is not a major spokesman. The loud tones – with a few exceptions – were never. As Germany’s national coach, he could have had a few public escapades for a long time ago as Germany’s national coach with most of the games, most victories and as the father of the 2014 World Cup title. But even on his 65th birthday on February 3, such abnormalities from “Jogi” are not to be expected. Löw is and remains with 65, who he was always: personable, down -to -earth and always a touch mysterious.

Sepp Herberger (1897-1977) was the father of the “Wonder of Bern”. For Helmut Schön (1915-1996) Udo Jürgens once sang in a popular manner from the “man with the hat”. Rudi Völler (64) was considered a favorite of the masses anyway, Franz Beckenbauer (1945-2024). While the current national coach Julian Nagelsmann (37) is seen as “one of us” who is supposed to lead German football out of the valley of tears again, parts of the German public to this day with Joachim Löw and his life’s work. Even after its glamorous World Cup triumph eleven years ago, some were still heard loudly whether the title was achieved because of or despite lion.

In a current ARD documentary, Löw speaks that he really fell into a psychological hole after the 2014 World Cup title. A national coach who could not look forward to winning the World Cup Cup stirred and deserves compassion and appreciation everywhere. Instead, the end of Löw’s term as a national coach was particularly unworthy. At the latest since the early end of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the calls after a Löw-Aus until the actual farewell in 2021 no longer fell silent with both media representatives and TV experts as well as in parts of the fishing. As if Löw had promised them something and then not kept. Does he have that? In the TV documentary, Löw weighed the question about that he might have ceded earlier. So were the critics right back then?

It is worth a quick look at Löw’s career. In the tranquil Schönau in the Black Forest, he made it to the Bundesliga striker, if only briefly. The then junior international suffered a shin and fabric broken in the season preparation of VfB Stuttgart in 1980, which probably prevented a more successful kicker career. But Löw was never impressed by setbacks. From 1994 he had determined the coaching career and took over his Stuttgart ex-club as head coach in 1996. While the so -called “magical triangle” around Balakow (58), Elber (52) and Bobic (53), Löw remained a puzzle in the background for many. The following trainer stations in Turkey and Austria tends to increase this impression.

When the German national team arrived at its “lowest low” in 2004, it was time to return to the spotlight for Jogi Löw. His former bank neighbor in the DFB trainer training, Jürgen Klinsmann (60), remembered him. As a coaching trainee, Löw was able to decrypt tactical formations and game strategies in zero comment. Klinsmann, who represented the new DFB as a radiantly self -confident motivator to the outside world. Already behind the scenes Löw was considered the tactical head of the “summer fairy tale”, which in 2006, as a World Cup host in 2006, protected from a embarrassment in his own country.

When Klinsmann resigned in 2006, many Löw did not trust the job as a national coach. But Löw remained strong. At the European Championships 2008 and 2012 and at the 2010 World Cup, the German national team showed inspiring offensive football and became a real title candidate again. Löw’s boys won the 2014 World Cup as confidently as it was consequently. Remember, besides the “Do it, he does it!”-winning goal by Götze (32) and the historic 1: 7 clap for the Brazilian hosts in the semi-finals, especially the 1-0 victory against the USA in the last Group game. Why? The U.S. boys’ coach was called Jürgen Klinsmann. And Löw freaked out in the constant rain of Recife in an unknown way. Löw throws fists in the direction of his own eleven with gossip -wasting hair and a polo shirt glued to the body, which is disregarding its tactical instructions and thereby endangering the World Cup title – and the victory over Klinsi.

So much passion, so much decibels, but also the subsequent portion of coolness, sunglasses, party mood, pleasure cigarette was rarely admitted. Instead of looking forward to his achievements as a trainer, Löw even had to publicly comment on whether he was wearing a toupet or was gay. All of this seems absurd. And the question arises as to why one of the most successful German coaches in history does not give the appreciation that he deserves. Is it because of its quiet character? Herberger, Schön or Berti Vogts (78) were also no loudspeakers. Is it because he keeps his private life away from the spotlight? A quality feature for a national coach because it should be about football. Löw promised nothing full -bodied, but kept a lot. So nothing stands in the way of celebrating Joachim Löw on his 65th birthday as the one he is: one of the best national coaches this country has ever had.