Pioneers of the 1860s Advance, Collaborating with Soccer Superstar Piqué
Scorching the Fields with Passion:
Gerard Piqué's Kings League catches the eye of two 1860 promotion legends, Aaron Berzel and Simon Seferings.
Munich witnessed a triumphant rise as TSV 1860 Munich surged into the 3rd division in 2018. Berzel, worn out his lions' jersey in 80 competitive matches, while Seferings donned it for 21 games.
A "Blast" at 1860: Berzel and Seferings Reminisce
Nowadays, these former warriors still keep a watchful eye on their beloved former club. The duo agrees they had an "absolute blast" as 1860 players, spilling their reminiscences to Absolutely Football, a part of the Home of Sports empire. According to Berzel, 1860 will forever hold a special place in his heart, while Seferings looks back on "those exhilarating promotion moments" with warmth.
Fast forward to present times, the pair now runs alongside one another in the lobby of Gerard Piqué's creation: the Kings League. The Kings League, a 7-a-side football league with out-of-the-box rules and amenities, made a grand debut in 2022, backed by the celebrated Spanish footballer. As the league ventured into Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, and finally Germany, it landed in April this year.
From 1860 to the Kings League: How It Happened
Berzel and Seferings now roll with the team, Futbolistas Locos FC. The initial connection took place through Oliver Beer, their old trainer at 1860. Futbolistas Locos FC's managing director, Tim Florian Mörtl, sealed the deal with Berzel and Seferings in a whirlwind of action, following the league's approval. Within mere hours, Mörtl and his team had to assemble a squad of 14 players, including Berzel and Seferings, before jetting off to Cologne for the Kings League in April.
The Kings World Cup of Clubs: Paris Here We Come!
As one of three German teams, Futbolistas Locos FC earned their ticket to the Kings World Cup of Clubs, taking place in Paris from June 1 to 14. Knowing why Berzel and Seferings chose to participate in a small-field league with unique regulations instead of straight-up amateur football?
A Modern, Innovative Approach
Berzel, who called it a day in 2024, states the novel and innovative vibe is "definitely more eye-catching" for a plethora of players from the lower leagues. "It's more tempting for many to play in the Kings League compared to amateur football," he emphasizes, adding, "Players who've missed out on pro-level football find another chance to shine in the Kings League."
As for Seferings, he claims the Kings League is "even more enticing than amateur football." And it's not a slight on amateur football, he assures, "It's more interesting to watch the Kings League than amateur football." The Kings League, unlike traditional football, is "all about entertainment through football, not the other way around," Seferings points out with emphasis.
The Future: A Promising Horizon
The Kings League, despite still being "in its infancy," looks promising according to Berzel and Seferings. The football duo point out that although the Spanish and Brazilian audiences are already wild about the league, with mega stadiums like the Camp Nou in Barcelona selling out, and millions more tuning in online, they see "even greater potential for the Kings League in Germany."
Kings League: Surfing the Wave of Competition
For Piqué, Netflix, HBO, Amazon, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram pose interesting competitors, rather than other sports or rival leagues. The Kings League appeals to a younger demographic, shaking up the world of football by intertwining it with the streaming sphere. And the dynamic duo of Berzel and Seferings can't help but love that aspect of the league.
On the King's World Cup of Clubs' Parisian stage, Seferings commanded his team, Futbolistas Locos FC, all the way to the round of 16, only falling to the heavily favored French team, Unit3d. While Berzel couldn't join the action due to scheduling conflicts, he cheered his teammates on from afar.
In conclusion, the Kings League, with its innovative twist on football, continues to captivate the interest of former professional players, like Aaron Berzel and Simon Seferings, who see it as a vibrant, promising new direction in football.
- Aaron Berzel and Simon Seferings, former players of TSV 1860 Munich, believe that the innovative and novel features of the Kings League make it more attractive to players from lower leagues, offering a new opportunity for those who missed out on professional football.
- As the Kings League ventures into European leagues, Berzel and Seferings remain hopeful about its potential growth in Germany, particularly because they see the league as offering a unique and entertaining blend of football and streaming content, appealing to a younger demographic.
