FC Bayern played exhilarating football in 2020 under Hansi Flick, winning five titles. However, the treble-winning coach is unwilling to take all the credit and he is always keen to stress the contribution of all the coaching staff. And that is also why Flick has now been named Personality of the Year by the sports journal kicker.
Flick embodies team spirit and modesty
"Flick achieved this outstanding success firstly through his teamwork born of conviction and secondly with a grounded modesty that does a lot of good to football in the middle of his culture crisis," was in the commendation for the award that has been presented every year since 1990. The 55-year-old is the eighth member of FC Bayern to win the award following on from Erich Ribbeck (1992), Thomas Helmer (1996), Lothar Matthäus (1999), Oliver Kahn (2001), Michael Ballack (2002), Franck Ribéry (2008, 2013) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (2010).
FC Bayern particularly value Flick's open manner. "He is fundamentally a good person," wrote assistant coach Herrman Gerland in his congratulatory message about Flick in the kicker. "He takes us all with him as an absolute team player. If he thinks it's right then he takes advice from his colleagues and follows it if he can then achieve improvements. He doesn't think he knows it all."
Miroslav Klose praises the fact the head coach has a clear plan. "He resolutely pushes through things he values," said the assistant coach who is particularly pleased that Flick listens and "allows himself to be brought round." According to Klose, the team comes first: "Everybody can feel the confidence and everybody can express themselves."
Flick's first year as the Bayern coach was a success story par excellence. We look back:
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