FIRST TEAM
08/15/2016

Hope for Germany – Dietmar Hopp’s dreams come true

There was pure joy following the Germany Olympic team’s commanding 4-0 victory against Portugal at the National Stadium in Brasilia. They can now set their sights on an Olympic medal. Only a victory against Nigeria in Sao Paulo stands in the way of Germany making history.

“We’re desperate to make the final, preferably playing against Brazil at the Maracana. That would be a dream come true,” explains defensive stalwart Niklas Süle after the 4-0 win against Portugal in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Never before has a Germany national side reached the final of the Olympic Games. “It’s clear we are desperate to win the semi and make it to the final in Rio,” says Jeremy Toljan.

Both of the 1899 Hoffenheim players are key pillars of the back line. Niki playing in the heart of the defence, mostly as the last man. Jerry, despite his recent exploits with Hoffenheim at left back, is now playing on the opposite flank, with the chance to win Germany’s first football Olympic medal in 28 years. Yet two more players also complete the Hoffenheim contingent at the Olympics, despite the fact they have since signed for other clubs. “We all know each other from before and all get on really well,” explains Jeremy Toljan, who includes Davie Selke and Grischa Prömel in that category. “It has also contributed to this Olympic squad growing quickly together as a team,” as Niklas Süle concurs.

Crucial in the development 

It is interesting to note that the now RB Leipzig striker was at TSG for four years before his move, while defensive midfielder Prömel, who last year moved to Karlsruher SC, also has a Hoffenheim background, where he was a part of the academy for three years. “It’s great to be a part of this Olympic team. It’s a fantastic experience for me,” said Prömel after his second substitute appearance in the tournament during the 4-0 win against Portugal. Toljan, Süle and also Selke form part of the starting eleven.  

Both Prömel and Selke agree that their upbringing in the achtzehn99 ACADEMY was a crucial part of their footballing careers. Just like Toljan and Süle, who also successfully completed their school education with TSG partner “Kick-off in life”, they too also profited from the combined teaching. 

“It has taken 15 years”

“The fact that four players in the Olympic team, who now find themselves in the semi-finals, came through the ranks at Hoffenheim, fills us with great pride”, said Dietmar Hopp. “This highlights our excellent work with young players, now playing at international level, with eight of our first-team squad already having come from our youth team.” Hoffenheim players going on to play for Germany is the best Dietmar Hopp could have hoped for all those years ago. “When we massively intensified our work with young players in 2001 with the foundation of “Kick off in life”, what we have achieved today was merely a dream that we have pursued with all our energy,” explained TSG’s main shareholder. “It has taken 15 years to achieve this dream. We are immensely proud to be where we are today. It gives us incentive to carry on.”

Hansi Flick, who as part of his role as sporting director of the DFB Olympic team is currently in Brazil, reaffirms the significance of the work of Hoffenheim’s up-and-coming talent for German football. “We need the kinds of clubs who really engage in high quality development of children and young players,” explained Flick, who in 2001 began his many years working as a TSG coach influencing the structures of today’s academy.

Almost from the same age group are the quartet of professional players who are fighting for Gold, Silver and Bronze at the Olympics, and were trained by Hoffenheim for the big stage. In the space of 13 months, Toljan (22 years, 08/08/94), Prömel (21 years, 09/01/95), Selke (21 years, 20/01/95) and Süle (20 years, 03/09/95) were born.

“We are among the last four teams, and nobody would have backed us to be here,” said Flick. He and coach Horst Hrubesch very much appreciate the strong willingness to cooperate from TSG. When the DFB went into its negotiations with clubs for releasing their players for the Olympics, many clubs were reluctant to let them go. Now Hoffenheim join Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig in having two players in the starting line-up, with Süle and Toljan first choice in their respective positions. Should the team win on Wednesday against Nigeria, they will then go for Gold on Saturday in Rio. Defeat would take Niki, Jerry, Davie and Grischa to the Bronze medal match in Belo Horizonte. But nobody is thinking about that: Go for Gold!

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