Thomas Doll: Marco Rossi does a great job with the Hungarian national team

– Football fans can often meet you in Budapest. Did you spend the holidays here?
– For Christmas, we traveled back to Germany with my wife, but we only spent a week there – told us Thomas Doll (54), who was the head coach of Ferencváros between 2013 and 2018 with whom the team won a championship and three Hungarian Cups as well. – Luckily, everyone is healthy, and we hope it stays like that... Prior to our travel, we did two coronavirus tests, only then did we leave, and we kept the recommended social distance back home. My father lives in a nursing home, so unfortunately, we could only meet him in the garden, but at least I could see him. While I was at home, I visited him every day and we talked for hours. We were not allowed to enter the hallway or the room. We then welcomed the new year in Budapest.

– We could say the Hungarian capital will be your home.
– I feel great here. My wife is Hungarian, and I also feel half Hungarian myself... We spent the new year at home in our flat in Buda. We love to live here. In this part of the city, a lot of modern houses are being built. It's a 10-minute walk to the forest, so we hike a lot, and if necessary, I can reach the city center in 15 minutes.

– This sounds great, but do you not miss football and being a coach?
– I don't want to be a hypocrite: it's been great to relax a bit. I spent an intensive period at Ferencváros which was followed by coaching in Cyprus. Surely, my wife doesn't mind that I'm at home more.

– Even so, how are your days spent without football?
– I'm not bored. I've received a lot of offers from abroad, but I felt the right time hasn't come to accept a new challenge. Also, it's because we were worried that at a time like this whether or not it is worth moving to a new country. Plus, as a coach I had to take into consideration that a lot of clubs pulled in their horns and there were/are financial problems. It is difficult to create a team's line up and build a professional concept if we cannot sign athletes and cannot travel anywhere to train. This is a special time for us coaches too. The virus makes my everyday life harder even without having a team.

– What do you mean?
– In a normal life situation, I would know my winter schedule even without having a team. I would know when to travel to Turkey or Spain to watch the teams' preparation matches in the training camp. It's a great opportunity to learn from these events because the head coaches try out elements that will not be used in future games.

– Is it true that you have recently visited Italy?
– We had a reunion with the old teammates. The German national team won the World Cup in 1990 in Italy. Several of the Germany players of the 90s were there. We met in a little village in the countryside of Tuscany. Contrary to the meeting being organized secretly, it came out as a great event. Andreas Behme, Jürgen Klinsmann, Thomas Berthold, Bodo Illgner, and even the former head coach, Franz Beckenbauer attended the reunion. During the time spent together, many old stories came up that even several books could be filled with them.

– What is the situation with the current German national team? Your friend, Lothar Matthäus, has criticized it with harsh words saying that is not the same as it used to be...
– I agree with Lothar on this. The team has changed a lot over the past 2.5 years, and no one is satisfied with it. On the other hand, I'm very happy that the federation's management insisted on keeping Joachim Löw. I think he's a great coach, and soon he will build a strong “national eleven.” We have a lot of young and talented individuals; they need to become one. Also, it'd be great to have some true leaders on the team like the ones we had on the field in our time. If they had some, they wouldn't get six goals in Spain. The German national team cannot let this happen.

– And what is your opinion on the Hungarian national team?
– All my respect goes to Marco Rossi for doing a great job as a head coach. I'm happy for the Hungarian national team's success. Years ago when I arrived in Hungary, the sport was only on an upward curve. The time and money spent on football by the country's leaders seem to bear the fruit now.

– Are you excited for the Germany–Hungary match at the European Championships in the summer?
– Of course! If there is an opportunity to enter the stadium, I would love to be on the grandstand. The Hungarian team got into a difficult group along with the current world champion and European champion and Germany. They will have to stand against these teams which will not be easy. Marco Rossi's team has one task to do: to leave the field with head raised. Regarding the advancement from the group, I think it's early to dream about it.

– Do you keep in touch with anyone from Ferencváros?
– I do. For the new year, I greeted Csaba Máté. He said that they would travel to Spain with Ferencváros, they would be training there until the start of the championship. The team had a great season, getting into the Champions League group stage was a great desire of the management. The Barcelona and Juventus-level teams represent a different level for the time being, but Ferencváros didn't have to feel ashamed. It's unfortunate that they had to play behind closed doors. Full house would've been guaranteed in every match.

– You follow the National Championship (NB I) matches. Who is the champion this season?
– Ferencváros with no doubt. The club has very great players; even some substitutes are national team players. There are two footballers with the same abilities in each position. In this respect, the strategy of the association has changed a lot. While in my time the bests were sold in winter and summer, they are now kept, and in fact, even sign on new players as well. This is correct as it is, because this is the only way to achieve a truly outstanding result. At Ferencváros they could now feel the taste of what it is like to be in the Champions League group stage. I am sure they will want to return there next season as well.

– When will Thomas Doll return to the bench?
– This year could be the perfect time. I miss the dressing room, the daily work and the team's atmosphere. During the holidays, two teams from Germany contacted me, but I didn't feel any of them would be the best offer for me.

– Didn't Hungarian clubs contact you?
– My name came up in in a club or two, but I don't want to talk about it. All twelve National Championship (NB I) teams have great head coaches and they have started training. By the way, the example of Michael Oenning, who became Újpest's new head coach after Vasas, shows that there is a way back to the Hungarian frontline. How can I not have a chance too?!

(Translator: Vanda Orosz)