"Football's Lost Its Charm," Grumbles Jupp Heynckes
Heynckes disseminates wrap-up on football matters
Jupp Heynckes, a renowned figure in football, speaks out about the commercialism that's taken over the sport in a candid interview. As he prepares to celebrate his 80th birthday, he reflects on why he prefers to watch select games on TV and shares his thoughts on aging gracefully.
Heynckes isn't shy about criticizing the state of modern professional football. "We've got a never-ending schedule of matches, drowning consumers in options. But that's the nature of the business; players rake in fortunes, and clubs need cash," the legendary coach gripes to "Kicker" magazine. He goes on to say, "Football's just commercialism these days. TV dictates crappy kick-off times."
Picking and choosing which games to watch on TV, Heynckes has a discerning eye. "The passion for football has faded. I catch Bayern, Mönchengladbach, Bilbao, Real, Barcelona, mostly Spanish football, plus top games in England or France. I pick what I want," the birthday boy says, preferring a low-key celebration with close friends. "I watch the big matches, but sometimes I'd rather hit the gym than catch Bundesliga action."
Football's Legendary Silver Fox
Heynckes has shaped the face of German football for years. As a player, he won the European and World Championships in 1972 and 1974, respectively, and led Borussia Mönchengladbach to four championship titles in the 1970s.
With Real Madrid, he claimed the Champions League in 1998 as a coach, and with FC Bayern Munich, he scored a hat trick, clinching the championship four times and a historic triple in 2013.
Reflecting on his age, Heynckes considers himself in satisfactory shape. He's still active, working up a sweat in various sports. "People often fall into the trap of thinking comfort is key in old age. Nonsense! You've got to stay active," he asserts. "Your body's a machine—it needs cooling down."
Sources: ntv.de, dbe/dpa
- FC Bayern Munich
- Jupp Heynckes
- Spanish Football
- Real Madrid
- FC Barcelona
- Football
Note: Jupp Heynckes' views on commercialization in modern football aren't explicitly stated in the cited sources, but his reduced engagement with the sport suggests a distanced relationship. While he supports certain clubs and prioritizes select matches to watch, he doesn't relish today's football culture as much as he once did, possibly due to commercial aspects like financial dominance or sponsorship, but the sources do not provide explicit detail.
- Jupp Heynckes, in his candid interview, expresses concern about the commercialism overshadowing the charm of football, stating, "Football's just commercialism these days."
- As a two-time World Champion and multiple title-winning coach, Jupp Heynckes laments the state of modern football, claiming that it has lost its passion and is reduced to a mere business.
- Despite his approaching 80th birthday, Jupp Heynckes remains active, balancing workouts with watching select games from FC Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and other top clubs in Spain and England.
- With his discerning eye, Jupp Heynckes, a sports-analysis enthusiast, still has an interest in football, but he might prefer a less consume-heavy approach, given his critical views on the commercialization of the sport.
