Zorc speaks out: Klopp as Germany boss ‘logical choice’ | OneFootball

Michael Zorc rarely speaks in public these days. Now the former BVB sporting director has broken his silence – and is making it clear that he strongly supports his longtime companion Jürgen Klopp as a possible Germany head coach.

The reason: Klopp and the German Football Association have reached a basic agreement on a head coach contract through the 2030 World Cup, and negotiations are ongoing. For Zorc, who largely withdrew from the public eye years ago, there is no doubt. Klopp is “the only logical choice – and the best thing that could happen to German football right now,” said the current BVB supervisory board member.

The 63-year-old based his assessment on principles he experienced himself over many years in Dortmund. “Put selfish interests aside, put merit first: he leads the way, and people will follow him,” Zorc said. Especially now, that is a major advantage, “when we perhaps do not have outstanding quality in every individual player.”

Memories of their time together in Dortmund

Zorc’s excitement about the possible role for his friend is obvious. “This is a job he can really pour energy into. We will all benefit from that,” he emphasized.

Photo: Getty Images

It was Zorc who brought Klopp to Strobelallee in 2008 – a move that would shape the club’s history. At the time, Klopp is said to have already been at least somewhat close to an agreement with Bayern Munich, before the club chose Jürgen Klinsmann instead. A move to Hamburger SV also did not materialize. So BVB made their move.

“Klopp was an outstanding coach, a football expert, but he also managed to inspire a huge community, an entire city, and infect it with positivity,” Zorc recalled. “He had tremendous powers of persuasion.” Klopp possesses the gift of carrying others along with him “in a way I had never seen before.”

One message in particular struck a chord back then: Klopp “hit exactly the right nerve in Dortmund: first, we get to work, not try to play beautiful football. That went down extremely well.” Together, the two won two league titles and reached the Champions League final.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.