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Das Reboot: How German Football Reinvented Itself and Conquered the World by Raphael Honigstein
gracefullypunk's review
4.0
Not sure I loved the structure of this book, especially at the end -- it flips back and forth between tournaments, and even within tournaments, for no discernable reason. The ending is rather weak and almost makes it seem like Honigstein, one of the most respected writers on German football, wants to remind us that he's in with the big names of fussball -- which also seems to be what he's doing when he lets a player write a brief chapter.
But overall the pace is good, the anecdotes interesting and, most importantly, it's got plenty of relevant details outlining the decade Germany spent reinventing itself to find their path to the World Cup trophy.
But overall the pace is good, the anecdotes interesting and, most importantly, it's got plenty of relevant details outlining the decade Germany spent reinventing itself to find their path to the World Cup trophy.
suzukabunny's review against another edition
5.0
Love it..a detailed history on German Football spans 40years
jdemster's review
5.0
Soooo good. The insight into history and culture runs parallel to the actual soccer stuff. This book is thoughtful and relevant in ways that extend beyond just those interested in German soccer. The branches of what happened there reach out into US soccer and even MLS. Fans of the game on any level can enjoy and appreciate the accomplishment both by the German team but in the writing of the book as well.
adamrbrooks's review
4.0
U.S. soccer fans have been told to read this to get a sense of what national team coach Juergen Klinsman is trying to do here. While Honigstein provides some insight, it mostl reinforces the depressing view that while JK can bring in some fresh ideas, he ultimately isn't the guy who makes the tactical decisions that help a team win games or trophies.
I heard the Men in Blazers interview with Honigstein in which the German said he writes in English, rather than translating. That creates an interesting flow to the language; a bit quirky and poetic. Fun, really.
The book also has the reputation that it could provide a road map for US soccer. But the German youth development system was based on putting a high-quality training center within 30 kilometers of everyone in the country. That just cannot happen here (and not because we don't even have kilometers). Though I supposed the idea of having MORE training centers to discover and develop players is correct.
(Oh, hey, and an anecdote about JK throwing players into positions they don't know how to play. That sounds familiar
Anyhow, that's me criticizing the reaction to the book, not the book itself. It's a good read that gains momentum as it goes, and makes me want to watch more Bundesliga football.
I heard the Men in Blazers interview with Honigstein in which the German said he writes in English, rather than translating. That creates an interesting flow to the language; a bit quirky and poetic. Fun, really.
The book also has the reputation that it could provide a road map for US soccer. But the German youth development system was based on putting a high-quality training center within 30 kilometers of everyone in the country. That just cannot happen here (and not because we don't even have kilometers). Though I supposed the idea of having MORE training centers to discover and develop players is correct.
(Oh, hey, and an anecdote about JK throwing players into positions they don't know how to play. That sounds familiar
Anyhow, that's me criticizing the reaction to the book, not the book itself. It's a good read that gains momentum as it goes, and makes me want to watch more Bundesliga football.
wellejj's review
3.0
In the light of the failure of the US Men’s National Team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, I heard this book mentioned as a reference by no fewer than 3 or 4 media members to a similar crisis in Germany. This one is really interesting, but I struggled to really get into it due to the almost staccato nature of the chapters (chapters alternate back and forth between how Germany tore their program down and rebuilt it after the 2004 Euros and game logs from the 2014 Cup). The information provided is spot on, almost to the point of overload, but it is at times difficult to follow and maintain a rhythm.
An additional note for anyone else reading this as a postmortem for the US: although written prior to Klinsmann’s downfall, it’s not too hard to see how his system failed in the US after reading this book.
An additional note for anyone else reading this as a postmortem for the US: although written prior to Klinsmann’s downfall, it’s not too hard to see how his system failed in the US after reading this book.
vivamonty's review
5.0
Really terrific. I'm amazed how Honigstein manages to pack so much into this book. He highlights each of the essential characters, explores the process by which German football underwent its major reconstruction, and utilizes a nonlinear means of narrative to link all sorts of different threads to the core story. I can only imagine what his outlining must have looked like.
Perhaps most interesting to me was the ways in which conservative traditionalists attempted to sabotage the reformers every step of the way, but how these people with new methods and ideas managed to overcome that inertia to drag an obdurate nation into the 21st century. Sports can be relatively low stakes, but they have the ability to teach us lessons that can be transmuted into a plan for spurring radical change in higher stakes arenas: government, communities, etc. It's a fascinating blueprint.
Perhaps most interesting to me was the ways in which conservative traditionalists attempted to sabotage the reformers every step of the way, but how these people with new methods and ideas managed to overcome that inertia to drag an obdurate nation into the 21st century. Sports can be relatively low stakes, but they have the ability to teach us lessons that can be transmuted into a plan for spurring radical change in higher stakes arenas: government, communities, etc. It's a fascinating blueprint.
rharris9585's review
5.0
Engrossing and superbly written by someone that clearly knows German football inside out and back to front.
The English FA would do well to take heed of the Germans taking stock and reverting back to basics after disappointment at several tournaments, hitting a new low at Euro 2000 due to a dearth of talent and direction. Instead, choosing to turn their attention to youth development, quality coaching and rethinking their footballing identity; how exactly they want to play the game with a clear strategy and guiding philosophy in mind.
Proof that the Premier League and its bloated riches thrown at players by clubs and sponsors has been to the detriment of our national team; bringing complacency, a lack of clear identity or playing style and an influx of foreign talent in place of emerging homegrown players sadly. If England intend to challenge for silverware on the big stage anytime in the next 10 or 20 years (and beyond) they would do well to take note here. In contrast the German FA and Bundesliga clubs, on a much smaller budget, have changed outdated mindsets at home over the last decade to breed success through developing a new wave of local talent as well as continually assessing and evolving their coaching methods, culminating in winning the 2014 World Cup. Innovation and marginal gains win the day.
Fair play to our German counterparts for being patient and far-sighted enough to play the long game by going right back to the beginning and looking at themselves in every department rather than remaining in denial as to the issues hampering them or papering over the cracks by chasing overnight success; you reap what you sow.
The English FA would do well to take heed of the Germans taking stock and reverting back to basics after disappointment at several tournaments, hitting a new low at Euro 2000 due to a dearth of talent and direction. Instead, choosing to turn their attention to youth development, quality coaching and rethinking their footballing identity; how exactly they want to play the game with a clear strategy and guiding philosophy in mind.
Proof that the Premier League and its bloated riches thrown at players by clubs and sponsors has been to the detriment of our national team; bringing complacency, a lack of clear identity or playing style and an influx of foreign talent in place of emerging homegrown players sadly. If England intend to challenge for silverware on the big stage anytime in the next 10 or 20 years (and beyond) they would do well to take note here. In contrast the German FA and Bundesliga clubs, on a much smaller budget, have changed outdated mindsets at home over the last decade to breed success through developing a new wave of local talent as well as continually assessing and evolving their coaching methods, culminating in winning the 2014 World Cup. Innovation and marginal gains win the day.
Fair play to our German counterparts for being patient and far-sighted enough to play the long game by going right back to the beginning and looking at themselves in every department rather than remaining in denial as to the issues hampering them or papering over the cracks by chasing overnight success; you reap what you sow.