moderated at the Nuremberg Tafelhalle, by
The soccer legend
known for his passionate coaching style, his outstanding successes, and his charismatic personality.
His achievements, quick-witted humor, and social commitment brought
Jürgen Klopp has a very healthy attitude to life; he is extraordinary, not only collecting titles but also being a
great inspiration to people. Jürgen Klopp is being awarded the prestigious Walther
Bensemann Prize.
He himself says:
Because if you know the intention, the basic idea, and the purpose with which Walther Bensemann created soccer,
then that is a prize that is priceless and cannot be bought with money.
A person can only earn this prize.
A man who stands by himself and his decisions, but above all is at peace with himself and represents his views
with integrity. He is a religious man who uses his common sense, his upbringing, and
life experience, which makes him very likeable, and his humor is infectious and witty.
With this special award, the jury honored Klopp’s many years of service as a leader who, in addition to sporting
successes, has always made human values the benchmark for his actions. In soccer and beyond.
Klopp’s nine-year tenure at Liverpool FC was not only marked by titles such as the 2019 Champions League victory
and the 2020 Premier League championship, but at least as much by the pop-cultural charisma
of the German coach, who helped the long-suffering traditional English club to new heights.
As the “most popular German in Great Britain” who has “made an outstanding contribution to the values of democracy
,” Klopp was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 2024.
When he was
was presented, his joy and beaming smile expressed everything that words could not have described better.
All the guests were delighted for Jürgen Klopp, and Katrin Müller-Hohenstein was so thrilled
that Jürgen Klopp was personally present at the Tafelhalle that evening that she said:
“It’s awesome that you’re here today!”
She expressed her heartfelt gratitude for a meeting that took place many years ago, when Jürgen Klopp had supported her
during her interview.
The prize is endowed with €10,000 by Olympia-Verlag.
The founder of Kicker sports magazine was German soccer pioneer Walther Bensemann. The first issue
of the magazine appeared on July 14, 1920, in Konstanz.
during the founding phase of modern soccer in Germany. He played a key role in popularizing the sport.
Due to his Jewish heritage, Bensemann was forced to flee to Switzerland in 1933 to escape the Nazis, where he died in 1934.
The magazine changed location several times before moving to Nuremberg in 1926, where it is still based today.
After the Second World War, it was revived by Olympia-Verlag and merged with “Sportmagazin” in 1968.
The audience decides who wins the title for the soccer quote of the year. Both finalists have been nominated several times:
With “Then the dice will be rolled again” by Lothar Matthäus and Nils Petersen’s quote:
“I used to watch for 80 minutes, now I watch for 90.”
is the winner of the Football Quote of the Year award.
He will receive the “Max” trophy and can decide which charitable cause will receive the €5,000 prize money.
The jury, consisting of former national team players and coaches, selected the winning quote from a total of 1,000 entries.
The winner will receive €5,000 for a good cause. The prize will be awarded by
präsentation.
Barbi Marković, who has already received various literary awards, is the first woman to be honored with the
Soccer Book of the Year award and will receive €5,000 in prize money from the sponsor, TeamBank AG.
From the statement by Academy juror Danny Neidel:
Barbi Marković’s “Piksi Book” is a literary solo run—fast-paced, pointed, and deeply moving.
The novel reads like a passionate soccer report, characterized by its rapid pace.
how the vocabulary of sports reporting often blends with the tone of warlike narratives.
And that is precisely where the book’s strength lies: it takes soccer seriously as a cultural asset—not as a myth,
but as a projection screen.
[…] The narrator reflects, observes, and analyzes herself and her own story.
Humor and lightness
permeate even the serious passages. Marković succeeds in combining absurdity and melancholy with ease.
You can hear the narrator’s voice thinking, doubting, improvising—almost like live commentary on a game
that is never quite graspable.
This book is being honored because it is courageous, different, literarily strong, and sophisticated.
Because it does not romanticize soccer, but dissects it finely. And because it does what great literature can do: tell
personal stories that touch everyone.
This book is a dribble against expectations.
Award winner Barbi Marković on her award: “The biggest surprise since I agreed to write a book about soccer!
The easyCredit Fan Award 2025 goes to the inclusive fan clubs of TSG Wilhelmsdorf under the motto
“Barrier-free access to soccer.”
Marianne also plays soccer because she enjoys it so much. One day, she was asked, “Why do you play soccer?”
That got her thinking. Nobody asks a man why he plays soccer… A long time ago, there were already very successful
female soccer players. That motivated her to write this book: “Das Recht zu kicken” (The Right to Kick).
Marianne was with me in
“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”
The Band also sings their Show with the
brings soccer culture to the big screen. And, of course, the audience gets involved: the vote for the soccer quote
of the year is led by the popular
It was a wonderful evening, the Tafelhalle was sold out, and many politicians, celebrities, athletes, fans, and culture
enthusiasts enjoyed the evening and clearly had a great time. Jürgen Klopp signed many autographs and took selfies
with his fans.
The celebrations included German sign language, audio description, and other improvements, large and small,
which enabled all guests to enjoy a wonderful evening.
Best regards, Susanne Panhans
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All images, texts, interviews, and videos: Copyright by Susanne Panhans
