Das Reboot -How German Football Reinvented Itself and Conquered the World
Written by – Raphael Honigstein
Published by Yellow Jersey Press (Part of the Penguin Random House Group) 2015
With the impending World Cup it was luck I found this book in an Oxfam Shop in Stratford.
The book is well written and very detailed into how Germany won the 2014 World Cup not just on the field but in their preparation and organisation.
Having had a disastrous Euros in 2004 they turned to Jurgen Klinsmann who swept into the job with his own staff in controversial fasion. At the same time the German FA were reviewing their strategy to youth development and subsequently introduced an academy system that top clubs had to adopt, this was later cascaded down to lower divisions. They also implemented a wide ranging increase in professional coaches and coaching that could reach outlying football areas as well as those dominated by the top teams.
Klinsmann’s Germany out performed expectation in the 2006 World Cup and only went out in the semi final to Italy 2-0 with both Italy’s goals coming in the last few minutes of extra time. Klinsmann unexpectedly stood down and the job was taken up by Joachim Löw.
Low too was his own man and continually drew negativeness from some of the footballing community. His perseverance and benefit from the influx of new players on the scene steeped in the new teaching methods enabled him to lead a world conquering team in 2014.
The book is a great insight into Low’s strategies but also the developing football styles in Germany at the time. For me the description of the emergence of Ralf Rangnick and his pressing ideas is fascinating, I had no idea of the man’s influence on modern football and football managers. A recent spat by a well known European star seemed to query why he was used by Manchester United as an interim manager, Ralf Rangnick who!
I have not given away too much of the book but I would say that you should get past the first chapter and gain an insight in the game today and wander why German club teams do not win more European trophies. Alas I think the answer is money provided by external countries to Europe.
N.B. After Germany’s performance at this World Cup they may need a new Reeboot.
Payonthegate 