Two seasons to learn
(1999-2001)
Football and more football
 Visited Leo Beenhakker at Feyenoord training
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Bernd left FC Koeln in
the middle of the standing, the team could not fight for a promotion to Bundesliga. Bernd is intersted to train in Spain but there are not interesting offers so he decides to take a year's sabbatical to see and to learn more on football and the current trainning methods. He visited first the training sessions of best coaches, he wants to be there live and he was learning from: Arsenal with Arsene Wenger, Feyenoord with Leo Beenhakker, Claudio Ranieri in Atletico Madrid, Van Gaal in FC Barcelona and Camacho in spanish national team stage before EURO 2000. "I'm just learning", Bernd said to the press, "I have my own style but it is always interesting to know how successful trainers are doing it". He was the main guest of a TV special dedicated to Maradona in FC Barcelona. Actually, the fans of FC Barcelona chose him as the best all time player in his position in club history. He usually goes to Nou Camp to see interesting matches, specially in Champions League, but also visits Montjuich stadium in Barcelona. When he goes to Madrid, he tries to watch derbies and interesting matches, too. Also he meets some friends, former Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid team mates. The Year 2000 began with familiar scandals. In Jamuary 2000, his father Dieter dies, but Bernd doesn't want to contact his family. Some weeks later, his sister Claudia writes an open letter to the press. Meanwhile, Bernd's wife Gaby doesn't want to talk about his former family: A 28 year-old-boy said on TV that Gaby is his mother. Before EURO 2000 in Belgium and Netherlands, he was invited to the draw ceremony and UEFA honored him as a member of the 'eleventh of the EURO' ever. The team is as follows: "Yachine (URS, 1960) - Vilfort (Danemark, 1992), Sammer (ALL, 1996), Facchetti (ITA, 1968) - Schuster (RFA, 1980), Platini (FRA, 1984), Zidane (FRA, 2000), Suarez (ESP, 1964) - Nehoda (TCH, 1976), Gerd Müller (RFA, 1972), Van Basten (PBS, 1988). " On march 2000, he plays a match with veterans of FC Barcelona in Lleida, before a Gremio Porto Alegre - UE Lleida match.
Bernd works for the german TV Premiere during the EURO 2000. Some rumours says spanish teams contact him again : Mallorca, Racing Ferrol, Zaragoza,.. but Bernd continues in Germany. It seems there is interst, but he is not the first one in the list. Bernd supports Joan Gaspart in the FC Barcelona elections. Joan is former vicepresident of FC Barcelona during Bernd's times. In his meetings Bernd incites the fans to vote Joan because "he is the right president for the club. He is here since 20 years and he knows how it works". Two months later, he becomes FC Barcelona scout, reporting from Germany on interesting players for the club. On september 2000, Bernd offers an interview to Christian Science teens magazine to explain how God helps him to get success in his personal and his profesional life. He usually talks on spanish football news and of course his opinion is clear and sincere, without any concession to the diplomacy, forgetting what means politically correct: "Overmars will be a good player, he just need selfconfidence. However, the club should have bought him two years before". After a Jorge Valdano sentence against FC Barcelona: "Valdano is in the right place to stay, general manager of Real Madrid, he loves to talk, he's a blabbermouth". On November, Figo returns to Nou camp with the white tshist of Real Madrid. Bernd knows what he will feel: "There will be 2 matches next week-end, first FC Barcelona - Real Madrid, second FC Barcelona fans - Figo" said the Blond Angel. "I remember the day I went to Nou Camp with the white tshirt of Real for the first time, it was very difficult to play. Not due to the people jeering but for the whole athmosphere, it was impossible to be centrated"". Bayer Leverkusen's trainer, Christoph Daum falls in drug test. Cocaine aparts him from the national trainer position: "I hope he will be punished". The Spanish referees fights for an improved assignment: "I agree they have to become professionals, they should be thinking about the next game the whole week". On december 2000, FC Barcelona player Petit says he is not agree with the trainer: "Petit talks too much, you cannot say it to the press in FC Barcelona, I know it is the wrong way, and he knows, too". FC Barcelona needs a defender and Bernd reports on Bayern's Kuffour and Andersson. Kuffour meets Schuster to have lunch and he receives a fee "because he's dialoguing with another club", says Bayern's manager Hoeness. Bernd also is present to a pair of chats. The fans asks him on his past, his future and his private life. A week before the Real Madrid-FC Barcelona derby, a drunk young boy crashes Bernd's car in Ibiza island, but the rent car is the only one affected. The FC Barcelona chrisis opens an speculation on the next trainer. Serra Ferrer is fired out and manager Rexach is named the new coach. Maybe the club thinks Bernd is still too young for such a complicated moment?. The last matches of Liga and the Champions League are very interesting for Bernd, and he visits some stadiums. Meanwhile, he is at home waiting for the right offer. Former FC Barcelona player Urruti dead in a car crash after the Champions League final match in Barcelona (Manchester won Bayern).
On june 2001, Xerez Club Deportivo offers Bernd to be the trainer. After a quick meeting with the president Oliver, Bernd accepts. Finally he can get a (very very humble) club to start his career in Spain. Bernd is back to Spain again after 8 years. The first time he came to Spain he was 20. He is 41 now. He will be the trainer of Xerez, just promoted to Segunda and with lots of economic problems, without stadium to play or playground to train...Yes but the players are excited to receive such a legendary caracter and Bernd comes with big baggages full of illusion. |
