Kai Havertz has been awarded the Audience Award of the German Football Ambassador. Uli Stielike and FC Bayern were also honoured.
The German international, who is preparing for next Friday’s World Cup qualifier in Hamburg against Romania with the DFB squad, prevailed in a public online vote to succeed national team colleague Robin Gosens, who is currently injured.
The honorary award at the ceremony on Wednesday in Berlin went to FC Bayern Munich. “With the German Football Ambassador Award, our jury is thus honouring not only an exceptional sporting year in 2020, but also FC Bayern München’s overall contribution to the image of (football) Germany in the world,” Roland Bischof, president of the non-profit association, had already emphasised at the announcement.
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to the team and the coaching staff with Hansi Flick at the helm,” said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The 66-year-old former chief executive of the 31-time German champions accepted the award on behalf of the club, which won every possible title last year.
Award for Stielike a curse and a blessing
In the coach category, the award went to Uli Stielike, who had been drawn to the world during his playing and also coaching career. “You always more than lived up to the title of German football ambassador,” Rummenigge said in his laudatory speech about the former national team colleague of the same age.
“I am very honoured and also see the award as a curse and a blessing,” said Stielike. The explanation followed immediately: He had actually wanted to enjoy being a pensioner and sometimes go overboard, but this award means he is now back in charge, Stielike said with a smile.
