Sayssteffen Freund
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Daily Mail, Monday, February 11, 2019 SPURS v DORTMUND 2 DAYS TO GO 67 Poch is right...top four is more important than cups EXCLUSIVE FACTFILE AGE: 49 POSITION: INTERVIEW Defensive midfielder by Matt CLUB caREER: Stahl Brandenburg Barlow 1988-91 in Cologne Schalke 04 1991-93 Borussia Dortmund 1993-98 TEFFEN FREUND Tottenham 1998-2003 thinks it probably Kaiserslautern 2003-04 all started with a Leicester (loan) 2004 game against Arse- At Tottenham: nal. He was banned Sat the time and so he took Games 131 a seat with Tottenham fans Goals 0 to watch the derby, every- INTERNATIONAL caREER: one got along famously, G ermany: a song was born and a Caps 21 connection was made. Goals 0 Spurs fans started to sing, ‘I love Steffen Freund, Steffen HONOURS: Freund loves me,’ and the anthem B orussia Dortmund: to a cult hero only grew louder as Bundesliga in 1994-95 and the midfield hard-man failed to 1995-96, Champions League 1997 score a single goal in five years at Then and now: Freund PICTURE: Tottenham: League Cup 1999 White Hart Lane. poses with a photo of KEVIN Germany: Euro 96 ‘I loved the intensity, you could himself at his first club, feel it much more than when QUIGLEY you’re on the pitch,’ says Freund, Stahl Brandenburg as he reflects on good times ahead of Wednesday’s clash in the Champions League between Tot- tenham and Borussia Dortmund, the two clubs closest to his heart. ‘They realised from that day I SAYS TS EFFEN FREUND was a supporter, like them. ‘You know the history of Totten- ham Hotspur. You know my style of football. Maybe we were not best suited to each other. Spurs cult hero and now a German TV star ‘I wasn’t skilful enough to be Glenn Hoddle. Maybe supporters were laughing in the beginning Trafford. He grabbed it from its Graham, when Patrick Vieira invited back, nine years later, and something positive comes when I won the ball and played it display case in his Berlin home, and Roy Keane were prowling the complete with his UEFA Pro back to Andre, Tim and me. The straight to the opponents again. I where it resides alongside other midfields of the Premier League. Licence and experience coaching club at the time was really noisy, can laugh about it, but I know souvenirs, including shirts from ‘George had won everything — Germany’s Under 17s, to join really nervous; really angry if we how good I was without the ball, every season signed by his but it was for the wrong club,’ Andre Villas-Boas’s backroom didn’t beat teams at home. and I think I was one of the best.’ team-mates. smiles Freund. ‘The supporters staff, and later Tim Sherwood’s. ‘Maybe Daniel realised it would At Spurs, they adored Freund’s It didn’t take long for the away didn’t like him from his past with never change if he didn’t stay commitment and courage, and fans to serenade him with his song Arsenal. And Leeds, because it’s with the coach.’ his popularity has been reinforced as a queue formed for selfies. not a club we all love, right? Pochettino has responded by HEN Pochettino leading Spurs into the Champions since by occasions like the ‘My boy is a Man United fan ‘The atmosphere is outstanding arrived, however, time when he turned up at the League for three years in a row and was in his Man United shirt. at Elland Road but sometimes he spent one sea- World Darts Championship at That’s why I wore my Spurs shirt,’ but the debate around silverware you’d go to take a throw and son working as a Alexandra Palace dressed in a said Freund. ‘It wasn’t to be in the they’d spit on you. lingers on because they have won Wclub ambassador and left in 2015. only one League Cup (2008) since purple Teletubbies outfit. paper, trust me, but that reaction ‘No problem, I loved it when it ‘We don’t have enough people ‘I lost a bet with my children,’ showed I did something good. was boiling. I loved the crowds in Freund’s team won the same like Mauricio,’ says Freund. explains Freund. ‘My family love ‘I always say my years at Tot- England and I loved the respect. trophy, 20 years ago. darts. As a child in Brandenburg, tenham was my most enjoyable Even Arsenal supporters would ‘Former players and Pro Licence ‘I won silverware several times my hometown, there is a lot of time. At Borussia Dortmund we respect me. I always gave 100 per coaches with top-level experi- and I remember every moment,’ water. We would take a boat and won the Bundesliga twice, the cent — that was the key to a place ence, leading football clubs. says the 49-year-old. ‘It is special go camping on an island in the Champions League and the in the hearts of the supporters.’ ‘That’s not against Andre. We for everyone because you feel it, forest, we’d have a dartboard. Club World Cup, and I won the Freund has flourished in televi- worked together — I’m not against but I have changed my view. ‘So when you live in London and European Championships, but sion since leaving Tottenham for that style. Look how much Jose ‘Football is now more of a you have the option, you have to that was the most enjoyable.’ the second time — after a three- Mourinho has won, he worked business and, in England, Spurs, go to Ally Pally. It was the third Freund was 29 when he was year coaching stint — and he bus- hard to be a top coach and Andre are No 6 financially. Others are round and Adrian Lewis threw a signed from Dortmund, by George tles around the studio in Cologne did the same in Portugal. But stronger and Mauricio’s job is nine-darter. I was there only once before settling into conversation. overall we’ve gone too much that to be in the top four, so they can and that was the day. He is prepping for his Monday way. In Germany, young coaches have more money from the What a game.’ DAY HE BECAME night show, 100% Bundesliga, a are coming through and only Champions League, and keep Another eccentric A TELEtuBBY! look at the weekend’s action from learning football from the book.’ the best players and the coach. man-of-the-peo- In one full season under Villas- ‘And, I have to say it, they are Germany’s top two divisions. above Arsenal. When we finished ple moment FREUND, dressed Freund has been impressed by Boas, Tottenham came fifth with came when 72 points, a Premier League best fifth with Andre, you could feel as Tinky Winky the Dortmund of Lucien Favre, the pressure on the last day he wore his top of the German league, the for the club at the time. Then after they sold Gareth Bale, sacked because if we won and Arsenal o l d 1 9 9 9 work of Michael Zorc, his former drew we were in the Champions League Cup losing team-mate who became the club’s Villas-Boas in December, replaced a bet, him with Sherwood and finished League, above them. Mauricio final shirt, sporting director, and the impact has done it. That’s why the covered meets of English teenager Jadon San- sixth with 69 points. supporters are happy.’ i n a u to - darts cho. But is no less effusive in his In the first season under Pochet- graphs, fans at praise for Mauricio Pochettino, tino they dropped to 64 points, BIG NAMES, as he took the man who marked the begin- finishing fifth. BIG OPINIONS SEE h i s s o n Ally ning of the end of his time at ‘He could have sacked him to see his Pally Spurs. Freund’s first farewell easily but Daniel Levy realised he CENTRE Tottenham in 2014 came in 2003, released by Hoddle had to stay with Mauricio,’ said PAGES play at Old at the end of his contract. He was Freund. ‘It was the right decision, .