His reputation – grinder, his nickname – “Quälix”, his favorite utensil – the medicine ball, his current assignment – save Hertha BSC from relegation in eight games. Felix Magath (68) is considered an old-school trainer who not only demands tough discipline, but has also enforced it in every troop so far. After almost ten years he is back in the Bundesliga. Behind the hard “Quälix” there is also a soft Felix. This is Magath’s world.
The medicine ball
–Some still laugh at this piece of sports equipment that was invented in the USA about 150 years ago. Magath says: “I’m not interested in that. I don’t do my job to look good in public, but to get as much performance as possible from my players. Funnily enough, the medicine ball isn’t as frowned upon as it seems. A Roger Federer in tennis uses it too.”
The Teetrinker
–Former national coach Jogi Löw always enjoyed his espresso. Magath, on the other hand, always drinks tea at press conferences. “Preferably green tea, I like to stir it around,” says Magath.
The chess player
–Magath is one of the smartest trainers in the industry. He is a tactical fox and judge of character. No wonder, his hobby is chess. How he got there has a sad background. “When I was in bed with hepatitis in 1978 and saw Korchnoi against Karpov in the Philippines, I joined the Hamburger Schach-Klub. I learned almost everything for football theory by playing chess.”
The Psycho Tricks
–Locker talks between Magath and players can sometimes take place without words. The coach can remain silent and just wait for a reaction from the professional. A chess player…
The noble technician
–As a coach, he values duels and discipline, but he has the utmost respect for creative individual achievements. He even demands it. No wonder: Magath was an icon of higher game culture as a midfielder in the 1980s. Artists and string pullers on the square. His goal for the history books: With a 28-metre shot to make it 1-0, he made HSV the 1983 European Cup winner in the final against Juventus Turin.
The first name
Actually, his first name is Wolfgang. As a teenager, he only wanted to be addressed by his middle name, Felix, the name of his father, a US soldier from Puerto Rico whom he had never met. “If my father had been there, my life would have developed completely differently,” says Magath. It was not until much later in life that he met his father.
The commitment to children
Magath is always involved in fundraising campaigns, especially for children. When he was supposed to get a luxury car from Bentley worth 250,000 euros as a non-relegation bonus in 2011, he preferred to have six VW buses and donated them to social institutions.
The criticism of football
“Far too much is talked about and written about trivialities. The main thing, playing football, has taken a back seat,” Magath has warned for years. He speaks unpleasant truths openly. Magath: “I’m a polarizing person. Some think I’m good, others don’t.”
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