After the summer fairy tale in Germany, the German Football Association agreed in 2006: Under his leadership, the national team will conquer the most difficult opponents in the future. Joachim Löw finally did it himself three years earlier and made it to the top. His opponent at that time: The highest mountain massif in Africa with 5895 meters of altitude – the Kilimanjaro.
Löw describes the expedition in an interview with Berliner Morgenpost 2016 as "the most interesting and most insightful experience ever in my life." She taught Löw never to give up and to believe in yourself even after setbacks: "This borderline experience has shown me that it always goes on, that you can still take a step forward, even if you think that it is no more And if you see the goal, no matter how difficult it is to achieve, then you don't turn around! "
Löw remains loyal to his home
Löw is used to headwind especially in his career as a coach. Before he even gets into this position, Löw plays on the lawn himself. It is rooted in the deepest southwest, in the Black Forest in Baden, which you can hear in its broad dialect. In 1960 he was born in Schönau. After middle school, he completed an apprenticeship as a wholesale and foreign trade clerk. At the same time, Löw is lacing up the soccer shoes for the local soccer club.
In 1978 he made the leap to the SC Freiburg professionals, who had just moved up to the 2nd Bundesliga with their team. In terms of space, Löw brings hardly any variance to his stations as a player. He often moves back and forth within Baden-Württemberg, runs for Karlsruher SC and VfB Stuttgart and in between returns to Freiburg. Towards the end of his playing career, he made another leap to nearby Switzerland and joined three different teams there until 1995.
First title win with VfB Stuttgart
He then returned to Germany as a coach. He joins VfB Stuttgart as an assistant coach and is promoted to head on the sidelines after just one year. With the club, he achieved his greatest success as a club coach in 1997: Löw won the DFB Cup. After another year, he moved to Turkey to Fenerbahce Istanbul. Until 2003, Löw has a new engagement with a team in Turkey, Germany or Austria. He is not as successful with any of his other clubs as in Stuttgart.
After the disastrous European Championship in 2004, in which Germany was eliminated in the group bunnies, German football lies idle before the upcoming World Cup in its own country. Rudi Völler (59) resigns as a coach. The people in charge at the DFB will hire Jürgen Klinsmann (55) as the new head coach, who will shortly be installing a whole staff of other trainers and specialists. His most important specialist: Joachim Löw.
Löw is promoted to national coach
In the next two years, Löw will be more than the assistant coach under Klinsmann. While 'Klinsi' is the big motivator who, with his positive and relaxed manner, makes the players hot in every match, Löw is responsible for the way of playing. Löw is the clock, strategist, he has the master plan in mind. With this division of roles, the two take third place at the home World Cup with the national team and write the story of the summer fairy tale.
Klinsmann then sees his work as finished. The DFB needs a new trainer again – and is promoting Löw. It's only logical that from then on he would be trusted to do the job in the front row. Löw consistently develops the team on the path he has chosen – increasingly relying on the youth.
Löw is developing like a world champion
Germany will already reach the final at the next tournament, the European Championship 2008. Only Spain prevents the DFB team from winning the title. You are satisfied with two semi-finals in the subsequent finals. But the longing for a trophy in the hands grows and grows. 2014 should be the time.
Right from the start, the World Cup in Brazil is subject to more difficult climatic conditions. But that shouldn't be an excuse for the German troops. Löw forms a team in the course of the tournament, which hosts Brazil send sensationally 7-1 in the semifinals. In the final, Mario Götze (27) shoots the decisive 1-0 in extra time. Germany is the football world champion – and Löw celebrates the greatest triumph of his coaching career.
There are also topics for Löw outside of football
As after every major tournament, Löw takes a few weeks to reflect on what he has experienced. To do this, he either relaxes on the beach far away, indulges in a cigarette, or retires to his house in Freiburg or his Berlin apartment. Löw, whom many are known to call 'Jogi', may not be very concerned with football. He is also interested in current affairs away from lawn, as he told the picture on Sunday in an interview: "Currently, the talks also revolve a lot about climate change or rapid technological progress."
He also runs a lot and does weight training. This is probably why he still feels fit at 60, as he said in the picture on Sunday: "I've been paying attention to myself for years and have developed a certain sensitivity through sport. Nevertheless, here and there he feels the age:" With increasing As I get older, I notice that the body tweaks a little more and you can't put everything away as quickly and easily as before. "
Löw attaches great importance to aesthetics
Löw appears in public as a man with wit. He likes to wear tailored shirts or turtlenecks. His scarf has also become famous. As the face of Nivea's advertising, Löw pays attention to his appearance. He also demonstrates style privately. After about 30 years of marriage, the separation from his wife Daniela (57) became known in 2016. Löw doesn't say a bad word about her. The former couple have no children. In 2010 Löw took over the sponsorship for a boy and a girl from Ghana.
After reflecting on the World Cup in Brazil, Löw came to the conclusion that his journey with the national team has not yet been completed. He is still hungry for the title. But with all the euphoria, there are always critical voices in the years of his tenure, especially before winning the World Cup title. Some experts cannot understand many of his personnel decisions. Löw is wrong to forego different players who consistently perform in the clubs, it is said.
Löw acts consistently – and pursues a few dreams
Once Löw has made a decision, he usually pulls it through with full force. After Kevin Kurany (37) fled from the stadium during a game in which Löw had not taken him into account, there was no way back to the DFB team despite apologies and good performances. Löw does not stop at big names and is not afraid of uncomfortable decisions. This is also shown by the defeat of seasoned players like Thomas Müller (30), Mats Hummels (31) and Jerome Boateng (31) after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
He owes the fact that Löw himself will not be booted out after the embarrassing preliminary round elimination due to German football. Some experts say Löw is stuck to his chair. He probably won't train a club anymore. A resignation from the office of national coach was not an option for Löw. He wants to restore the reputation of the German national team – and his own. Löw is still missing the European championship title that Löw could win this year. And he wants to become world champion for the second time in Qatar in 2022. His title mission is ongoing. Even if he has to conquer mountains.