A picture like a promise: Jürgen Klopp and the sweet symbols for a bright future with the German team –
There aren’t many Germans who are widely known in Saudi Arabia. But Jürgen is one of them. I indirectly „encountered“ him there, in a supermarket. And it’s not surprising.
Jürgen Klopp is global. And he is a symbol of passion, authenticity, and success. That combination makes him visible. Even between shelves of everyday goods.
I am very happy to welcome him as Head Coach of the German national team. 🎉
>> A long and arduous road led to the World Cup title in 2014. Near misses in the semifinals (World Cup 2006, World Cup 2010, Euro 2012) and even a lost final (Euro 2008). All of it was part of the team’s journey, born in the German football fairy tale of 2006. A golden generation.
>> Congratulations to Spain, Argentina, and France, the three most recent World Cup champions, all of them returning to the semifinals in 2026. And beside them, the ‘Three Lions’: their time for a second star is not far away, I’m sure.
>> A World Cup title is not a four‑year project, but a story of growth and becoming. A coming‑of‑age with all its experiences: birth, first steps, joyful moments of success, the turbulence of adolescence, and finally the test of maturity.
I feel like one of the 80 million German national coaches. And I carry those stories with me, quietly, in the back of my mind.
“I’m not doing this job for myself. I’m doing it for you”, said Jürgen in the press conference last Friday. I trust him.
And now I’m curious: It’s remarkable how football manages to connect people and cultures, even far from the stadium. Which example comes to your mind?
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I am Bernd Scharbert and I write about experiences that can be transferred from football to business life. And I am happy to accompany and advise when it comes to intercultural leadership. You are also welcome to take a look at my book. “Prepare for Landing: Leitlininen für interkulturelle Führung” (translated to Guiding Principles for Intercultural Leadership).
#Prepare4Landing #FootballMeetsBusiness
