Soccer Board Book Club: Das Reboot

Yes, it comes a time where the soccer board puts on their smoking jackets and discuss the finest prose on the world's game.

I just completed Das Reboot by Rafael Honigstein. It basically outlines Germany's path to the 2014 World Cup beginning with the disasters at Euro 2000 and 2004 that led to Klinsmann's initial appointment as Bundestrainer. The book is full of fantastic first hand accounts of the development of the German talent factory and the rise of its modern players and managers.

It's worth reading simply for insight into what the hell Klinsmann might be thinking with our national team. Honigstein is relatively fair when it comes to analyzing Klinsmann by interviewing him directly, but providing counterpoints from former players and co-workers. In essence, Klinsmann's ideas were the main reason for the abundance of youth talent that appeared in Germany circa 2008ish. There are a few other key players, but Klinsmann did have the foresight to dramatically revitalize the decaying training methods present in Germany in the early aughts. However, he is portrayed as a new age, fitness-obsessed, tactically naive manager who likes to select similarly-minded "ya Johnny ya, give 100%" type players. So...basically what we knew the whole time. Thomas Hitzlberger even talks about how Klinsmann tried to shoehorn him into playing leftback despite never playing there before, and having multiple other players who could play in that position. Never seen that one before from Jurgen.

However, however, the book does note some interesting points about talent identification and development in Germany. I found it interesting that something like 60% of youth players in the German academy system academically qualify for university upon passing their A-Level exams. Basically education is seen as an equal pursuit for young professional players. It explains why Lahm, Mertesacker and Mueller seem much more intelligent than say Jack Wilshere, Harry Kane, or Raheem Sterling. It also notes that most players in the lower divisions of German football, often pay their way through their university studies by playing on these semi-pro teams.