4 Hot Female Tennis Players Who Had An Affair With These Tour-Colleagues

Tennis life is a blessing and a curse at the same time. You travel around the world, earn with the thing you love the most a living and attract people from everywhere. But the life as a tennis pro often makes a private life very difficult. These players took a risk:

Maria Sharapova (32)

The Relationship between the Russian Sharapova and the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (28) began in October 2012, when Dimitrov firstly texted Sharapova via E-Mail.

„Our messages turned into phone calls, our phone calls into Skype calls. It was very simple and genuine. I didn’t think too much of it until, after one of our phone conversations, he dialled me back thirty seconds later and said, ‚I’m sorry, but I miss your voice. Can we speak for a few more minutes?'“, revealed Sharapova in her autobiography Unstoppable.
They gone public about their relationship in the beginning of May – all in all the romance lasted til summer 2015. „I was supposed to be focused, getting prepared for my own matches, my own triumphs and defeats, on the largest stage of my career. I had been watching his match that day only because I’d lost early at those championships. So his good memory was my bad memory. What meant everything to him happened only because I had lost“, Sharapova concluded in her book.

Nowadays Sharapova is in a relationship with businessman Alexander Gilkes (40, founder of the auction house „Paddle8“), while Dimitrov is Single again after the summer-split from former „Pussycat Dolls“ lead singer Nicole Scherzinger (41).

Donna Vekic (23)

There was great outcry when Nick Kyrgios (24) told Stan Wawrinka (34) in the mid of their match in August 2015 that Thanasi Kokkinakis (23) slept with Wawrinka at the time girlfriend Donna Vekic.

„Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that, mate“, Kyrgios was caught on camera telling the Swiss at the Rogers Cup in Montreal. Both, Kokkinakis and Vekic, didn’t confirm but also didn’t neglect Kyrgios‘ allegation. So the rumours kept rolling.
„It’s not easy but I’m trying to focus on tennis and my next match. I haven’t spoken to Kyrgios. But it’s a very disappointing thing to be happening in our sport and I hope it won’t happen again because it’s not a very good image for our sport“, Vekic spoke out in an interview with the Canadian newspaper The Province.
The relationship between Wawrinka and Vekic ended in summer 2019.

Lucie Safarova (32)

The two Czechs Tomas Berdych (34) and Lucie Savarova have been together for eight years after the split came in 2011.

„I think we came to the point where it was just not going the right way and both of our personalities became different. It just happens. Our breakup was very normal. We didn’t have fights or anything“, Safarova reavealed via Tennis Now. For Safarova the separation changed her perspective on her life which also lead to a career-boost. „I discovered more of myself which was great. Since I was 15, I was sharing everything with a person and suddenly I was there alone. At the beginning it was frightening, but it was good to also know what I like for myself and what I like to do“, the Czech told Tennis Now. In Bethanie Mattek-Sands she found a double partner, with whom she had a lot of success (5 Grand Slam titles).
While Safarova is today in a relationship with tennis coach Troy Hahn, Tomas Berdych is since 2012 engaged with model Ester Satorova (27). „Today I can say, it’s much better, because I think before [ relationship with Safarova, Editor’s Note] there was too much tennis“, Berdych told Channel Seven.

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Katie Boulter (22)

The former Top 10 Player Jack Sock (27) once built with Katie Boulter a perfect tennis couple.

Unfortunately the relationship didn’t last long – they split in the beginning of 2019. Nowadays Sock is in a relationship with Miss North Carolina Laura Little. Boulter, british tennis hope, meanwhile is single again. „Luckily enough, I have really close friends on tour that I travel with and that’s really it. I don’t need anything else“, Boulter told The Sun.

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The Reason Why These Former Premier League Divas Went To Prison

Attempted strangulation, drink-driving despite driving ban, a severe beated taxi driver – these football players completely lost their nerves and went to prison.

Marlon King (39)

The Jamaican was sentenced in October 2009 for sexual violence against a woman for 18 months jail.

The background was that the former Premier League striker (12 goals in 64 appearances) celebrated in the end of 2009 in a bar his winning goal for Hull City and also the pregnancy of his wife. After a female student gave him a cold shoulder, he started a dispute with her. „Don’t you know who I am? I am a millionaire“, the father of three children was reported to have said. „I don’t care who you are. Take your millionaire being away from our table“, gave him the female student space to thought.

Subsequently King lost his nerves, grasped at the woman. „I’m out of your league love, I’m a multi-millionaire“, King shouted to her after she told him to stop touching her. Afterwards he punched her with such force that two other revellers, one of them holding on to his arm, were knocked over.

Barely five years later King was sentenced in 2014 again for 18 months jail. This time the cause was ‚dangerous driving‘. King was seen weaving in and out of traffic on the dual carriageway before he undertook Martin Beck’s VW Polo, which he considered was driving too slowly, the court heard. The former footballer, who was eating an ice cream bought from McDonald’s moments earlier, then slammed his brakes on in frustration, forcing Mr Beck to perform an emergency stop.

A third car crashed into the back of the Polo, pushing it into the back of King’s Porsche. The footballer drove off, only for a witness to flag him down, thinking Mr Beck had been killed. When he returned he blamed Mr Beck, who had to be cut free and flown to hospital, for causing the collision. Mr Beck spent three weeks in hospital and required surgery for a fractured and dislocated forearm. A third driver was also taken to hospital for cuts and bruises.

Jermaine Pennant (36)

Former Arsenal London star Pennant was condemned in 2005 for ‚drink driving while banned‘.

He crashed his top of the range Mercedes into a lamppost while more than twice the legal limit, then drove off with the post dragging underneath the car. He pulled into a car park of a leisure complex where he was arrested. Police said his eyes were glazed and his speech slurred.

When questioned initially, he gave a false name, telling officers that he was his Arsenal team mate Ashley Cole.

Adam Johnson (31)

Former English ‚prodigy‘ Johnson (inter alia Premier League winner with Manchester City in 2011/12) was arrested for ‚child abuse of a 15 year old‘ for six years jail.

Johnson (265 Premier League appearances for Manchester City, FC Middlesbrough and AFC Sunderland) had engaged in sexual activity with the child knowing she was under 16. The sexual activity with the girl happened in the footballer’s Range Rover in January 2015 after he had groomed her using social media apps.

In March 2019 the disgraced former England international has been released from prison after serving three years. His release conditions: He cannot spend time alone with Ayla, a social worker monitoring his every move. He will likely live at a registered address and give details of anywhere else he stays. The ex-Englandwinger will also have to hand over his bank card details in case he accesses paid for porn sites.

Joey Barton (36)

The former international was arrested in December 2007 for a ‚violent and cowardly attack‘ on a man outside a McDonald’s restaurant for six months jail.

In Liverpool city centre Barton punched his victim up to 20 times as he lay on the ground. A few minutes later he attacked a 16-year-old, punching him and leaving him with broken teeth.

In another case in May 2007 where he assaulted his former Manchester City team mate Ousmane Dabo in a training ground incident he was not pleaded guilty. He got imposed a 3.000€ fee, which he had to pay to Dabo, the cost of proceedings and 200 hours of community service.

Danny Simpson (32)

The defender, who won in 2016 with Leicester City sensationally the Premier League, got community service for pinning his ‚terrified‘ ex-girlfriend to the floor and throttling her.

After Simpsons ex-girlfriend Ward had refused to give evidence at trial and withdrew her statement, the Judge handed him 300 hours unpaid work at court in Manchester instead of the discussed imprisonment.

Ms Ward made a frantic eight minute-long 999 call in which she can be heard begging him to ‚get off‘ during a drunken row at family gathering at Christmas. When officers arrived they found Simpson straddled over Ms Ward and he was arrested while his former girlfriend was left ‚crying hysterically and cowering‘ in the corner of the room.

Nicklas Bendtner (31)

The ‚Lord‘ has been sentenced to 50 days in jail in Denmark for assaulting a taxi driver.

Scandalous former Arsenal star Bendtner has beaten in September 2018 the taxi driver so hard, that the taxi man suffered a broken jaw. The Dane admitted hitting the taxi driver but said it was because he ‚felt threatened‘.

Bendtner told journalists the driver threw a bottle or a can towards him and his girlfriend when they left without paying.

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Burnout! That’s Why These Top Coaches Needed A Break From Football Business

Jurgen Klopp in 2015 after his engagement at Borussia Dortmund, Thomas Tuchel even twice ( in 2014 after five years at FSV Mainz 05 and two years at Borussia Dortmund), successfull football coaches get more and more demanded and the coaches‘ urge for a break increases. These international top coaches have chosen the same way as Klopp and decided to take a sabbatical.

Zinedine Zidane (46)

After Zidane has functioned for nearly four years at Real Madrid as co-trainer and youth coach, in 2016 he moved up as head coach and celebrated in his term of barely three years major successes.

With „Los Blancos“ he won the UEFA Champions League three times in a row and moreover secured the Spanish championship. All of a sudden he announced in the end of the season 2017/2018 his withdrawal. „After three years, I think it’s time to leave, it’s difficult to continue coaching after that length of time“, he explained at the final press conference. „I didn’t see clearly that we’re going to continue winning definitely. There comes a moment when you believe that it’s better to make a change, so as not to stay too long and make mistakes“, Zidane shed at that time light on his motives. His adviser Alain Migliaccio added towards Le Journal Du Dimanche he was ‚emotionally exhausted‘. For two months, barely ten months after his break, Zidane has returned – as head coach of Real Madrid.

Pep Guardiola (48)

In 2008 Guardiola moved up as head coach of the 26th times Spanisch champion FC Barcelona after he has coached the reserve team for one year.

The achievements he celebrated in his four years of term have been phenomenal. Overall he collected 14 trophies, among them twice the UEFA Champions League, three times the Spanish championship and two Spanish cups. Nevertheless, after that he made a cut. „Four years at Barcelona is an eternity“, Guardiola explained in his final press conference. „I’m drained and I need to fill up. The demand has been very high and a manager must be strong. The new coach will give things I’m not able to anymore. You can only recover by resting. It would have been a bad decision to continue. We have lived too many strong things together to run the risk that this goes wrong. I know this is the best possible place, but it is my time to go. I’m satisfied beyond the results in the way we’ve done it“, Guardiola added comprehensively. After his admission Guardiola moved to New York for one year, learned English and German. The two languages he needed at his next jobs as head coach of Manchester City and FC Bayern München.

Luis Enrique (49)

Past annual jobs as head coach of AS Roma and Celta Vigo he started in 2014 as coach of FC Barcelona.

In his three years of term Enrique collected nine titles, including the Champions League, two Spanish championships and three Spanish cups. However in 2017 the Barca romance was over. „If I’m leaving Barcelona, my home, where I have a great relationship with the club and the players, it’s purely for tiredness. I need to recover. I’m not thinking about other teams. It will be a year to recover, but now what’s left to do is to end the season with all our objectives achieved“, explained Enrique his sabbatical. During that year Enrique kept low profile. The former successfull player (inter alia three Spanish championships) only was seen participating in professional mountain bike competitions. Since summer 2018 Enrique is coaching the Spanish national team and is willed to lead „La Furia Roja“ in 2020 to the EM title.

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4 Active Football Stars Who Made Their Depressions Public

4 Active Football Stars Who Made Their Depressions Public

In public reporting, in which the athletes usually get judged on the performance, it often comes off badly that top athletes are also humans. These active soccer professionals gave deep insights about their in football business suffered mental illnesses.

Andrés Iniesta (35)

In the television programme „Salvados“ the former FC Barcelona captain openly confessed his at Barcelona suffered depressions.

The 34 year old has thus undergone already in 2009 medical treatment. „My urge to undergo medical treatment was so big, that i always have been 15 minutes earlier there“, said Iniesta in the televison programme „Salvados“. „I remember when I have been at home in the afternoon during the practice for the next season. I felt very bad. I called the doctor, otherwise I wouldn’t have known what would’ve happened to me. On this afternoon I said to myself: ‚I need help, I need anything because otherwise I won’t be able to find out of this situation. I longed for the night, where I could take my pills and finally get some sleep“, is Iniesta quoted on „latinamericanpost.com“.

Danny Rose (28)

The Spurs stars missed in 2017 for over eight months. In this time of suffering his uncle commited suicide.

„It’s no mystery that I have been going through tough times this season for Tottenham, which leaded, that I visited a psychologist, who diagnosed a depression“, Rose said towards British journalists. „Nobody knew anything about it and I just had to leave Tottenham“, so Rose. „I was on medication for a couple of months, which knew nobody except my agent“, revealed Rose. „My uncle killed himself in the midst of rehab, which increased my depression. It was really tough, it helped me massively that I got referenced to a doctor and a psychologist. Furthermore outside the pitch there have been other incidents. My mother has been racially abused and somebody nearly shot my brother in the face. It was a very tough time“, communicated Rose to British journalists.

André Gomes (25)

The Portuguese international made in March 2018 his mental issues he suffered at FC Barcelona public.

„I didn’t feel good on the pitch“, Gomes told the Spanish magazine Panenka. „I was not enjoying what I am doing anymore. The first six months were pretty good but then things changed. Maybe it’s not the right word to use, but it has turned into a kind of hell, because I have started to feel more pressure. The feeling that I had during games was bad“, so Gomes towards Panenka. „I closed myself off. I didn’t allow myself to get rid of the frustration I had. I didn’t talk to anybody. It’s like I felt ashamed. Thinking too much has hurt me. I thought about the bad things and what I have to do“, completed the Portuguese. By now Gomes found at Everton back to his old performance from Valencia times and strikes up free again.

Anthony Knockaert (27)

Also the French midfielder from Brighton & Hove Albion troubled with depressions and made it public towards Independent.

First Knockaerts father, with whom he had a close relation, died in November 2016. Bare one year later his former wife filed for divorce and got the custody for his son. „My wife left last summer during the pre-season, for some reason, and I just realised that I wouldn’t be with my little boy anymore“, Knockaert told the Independent. „When I lost my dad, the most important thing for me was my wife and my baby. They were the people that I needed and six months later, I realised that they weren’t here anymore and just went through a depression“, Knockaert revealed. „I didn’t see it coming. The first month, August, I was sad but I was thinking, ‘come on, you will be back’. In September and October it was just getting worse and worse until I had to say something to the club. I spoke with Bruno last December and said ‘listen, I can’t keep going like this’. And Bruno went to see the manager, the manager came to talk to me and said we are going to get you a counsellor, and since it happened I’ve started to be a bit better and better, she helped me a lot“, exklpained Knockaert and gave deep insights towards Independent. With his team Knockaert stayed this season in the league and had as a regular player a big impact for that achievement.

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Gay Soccer Players: These Pros Came Out And Attracted An Absolute Novelty

In Europe, the German Thomas Hitzlsperger was one of the first male professionals, who admitted in public his homosexuality. There was a slice of hope, that in the male domain soccer homosexual pro players will be accepted and more players will reveal their sexuality. But far wrong!
5 years gone and according to French World Cup winner Olivier Giroud for the players it is still „impossible“ to reveal their sexuality in soccer business. These two professionals took in Australia and the USA the plunge and revealed their sexuality across social media. An example for europe?

Andy Brennan (26)

The in the Australian A-League active player Brennan came out on 14th May 2019 as first Australian professional.

In an Essay, which was published by Professional Footballers Australia Brennan wrote amongst others: „Ever since speaking about it, I’ve learned a lot more about the people I have told because of how they’ve treated me – they’ve been amazing. But I still felt there was one more hurdle looming. And perhaps it’s the biggest. How do I ‘go public’? Throughout my whole A-League and football career, I’ve never known of, met, or spoken with an a out gay male footballer in Australia. Globally, it’s astonishing how few male gay football players have come out during their careers. When I was at Newcastle Jets, I didn’t want to accept my sexuality. At that time, I was really focussed on playing sport and doing my best there, even though I was injured at times. I tried my best to put all my focus and effort into the game and maybe put that part of me aside. It took me time to realise that I couldn’t keep living this lie; that I wanted to be happy with who I am. At some point you have to realise that that’s who you are and you’ve just gotta be who you are. It’s a strange feeling, but I guess in a way I’m the one breaking through the wall here in Australia. Statistically looking at it, people playing the sport, whether it would be football or AFL or any other sport in Australia, there must be more male players who are gay“, Brennan wrote in his on 14th May developed Essay on Professional Footballers Australia.

Collin Martin (24)

The in the MLS for Minnesota United playing midfielder Martin came out on 29th June 2018 via Twitter and is according to NBC NEWS the first and only openly confessing homosexual player from USA’s and Canadas most important sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS).

In an exclusive interview with NBC NEWS he revealed, that his teammates knew already before his coming out from his homosexuality. „It was so comfortable for me to then let them know that I wanted to take another step“, said Martin. “ I’m the only one out right now“, so Martin, who previously made 38 matches in the Major League Soccer. „I think it is important. I think people need to hear that, and I think there are others out there“, completed Martin. „Sports in general, no matter the level, college, youth, professional, people are going to accept you wholeheartedly as long as you are yourself and you’re honest with your teammates“, explained Martin.

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Heart Failure! These Soccer Stars Suddenly Dropped Dead

Davide Astori was a former soccer player, who recently died because of heart failure. Unfortunately this wasn’t the first case of this kind.

Cheik Tioté (†30)

The former Premier League player (138 matches for Newcastle United) died on 5th June 2017 during the practices for his at that time club Beijing Enterprises in China.

Emergency doctors took him after the collapse to the hospital, where the doctors determined the death. Heart attack was called as death cause.

Antonio Puerta (†22)

The then Spanish international suffered on 25th August 2007 in the league match FC Sevilla against FC Getafe on the pitch a cardiac arrest.

Puerta has been given artificial respiration at the hospital, suffered because of a lack of oxygen supply serious brain damages. Three days later he died at the hospital as a result of several cardiac arrests.

Patrick Ekeng (†26)

The Cameroonian suffered on the pitch at the league match between Dynamo Bucharest and FC Viitorul Constanta a heart attack.

According to eyewitness reports it took several minutes until Ekeng got medical help on the field. The responsible doctor was located at the stand, far away from the happening. Furthermore the for the game provided ambulance had no defibrillator. The only 26 years been old died on the pitch.

Daniel Jarque (†26)

Jarque was captain of the Spanish BBVA team Espanyol Barcelona and suffered on 8th August 2009 during the training camp a heart attack.

Recording to „RP Online“ the defence boss phoned in his hotel room with his girlfriend as he suddenly failed to respond. Subsequently the doctors tried to reanimate him with the defibrillator, but in vain.

Miklós Fehér (†24)

The Hungarian collapsed on 25th June 2004 in the league game between Benfica Lissabon and Victoria Guimaraes.

Because of the heavy rain no defibrillator has been used. „Due to the moisture it would have been an effect, as if somebody would lay a dryer in a bathtub“, said a doctor. Fehér died according to details even in the stadium. The death was confirmed at the hospital afterwards. According to the final report of the Portuguese justice the death cause of Fehér was a heart attack.

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Soccer Stars Who Took Over The Hot Girlfriends Of Their Teammates

It is no blank sheet, that club loyalty and Soccer-Stars is no romantic rendezvous anymore. But to take over the girlfriends of their teammates? These 6 soccer stars weren’t afraid of it:

Mauro Icardi (26)

Icardi und Maxi López once have been good friends, presented at Sampdoria Genua a notorious forward pair – until Icardi decided to take over López former wife Wanda Nara whilst they were on common vacation.


Lionel Messi, a good friend of López, ensured afterwards that Icardi made no step in Argentinas national team anymore.

Icardi on the other hand is nowadays the new husband of Wanda Nara, while Nara became Icardis manager, who represents him in negotiations. What an EXPLOSIVE DUET!

John Terry (38)

The former captain of Englands „Three Lions“ attracted 2010 a giant-scandal, as he slept with Wayne Bridges former girlfiend Vanessa Perroncel and actually impregnated her.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt-vj_lgdmA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Terry on the other hands was at this time married with Toni Poole. Terry failed to apologize and bought for bare 1 Million Euros Perroncels silence. After the disclosure the friendship between Bridge and Terry broke, but the marriage between John and Toni surprisingly endured.

„He is a real romantic“, said Toni Poole ( meanwhile Toni Terry) towards the magazin CelebsNow.

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Thibaut Courtois (26)

New Order’s „Bizarre Love Triangle“ suits extremely good to the thing, Thibaut Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne cooked up in 2013.

Courtois seduced De Bruynes former girlfriend Caroline Lijnen by cooking for her and being an excellent listener. But that’s not all: As Lijnen said De Bruyne has been much earlier unfaithful. „Kevin betrayed me, so why shouldn’t I do the the same“, said Lijnen in an interview. „Kevin told me in 2012, that he had an affair with an old friend of mine“, revealed the Belgian.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwMzdWlAnmL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

While Courtois enjoys nowadays the single-life, De Bruyne has been married in the meantime. He is even a proud dad of two kids.

Michael Ballack (42)

The former Captain of the German national team allegedly had in 2010 an affair with Christian Lells (past Bayern-Munich-Player) girlfriend Daniela Aumeier, although at this times he has been married with Simone Lambe.

Christian Lell piped up to it in an interview. „Not everybody is like Michael Ballack, who thinks, he gets away with everything, who gets in the private lifes of other people and destroys a lot without making any thoughts about it. But maybe this is how you think as the DFB captain“, told Lell.

Today Michael Ballack is in a relationship with model Natacha Tannous, while Christian Lell stands in big troubles with the court after he had a lot of scandals in the past.

Mesut Özil (30)

And again Christian Lell is the sufferer! Arsenal star Özil changed with Lells girlfriend Melanie Rickinger text messages via WhatsApp. After Lell scrolled through the girlfriends phone and found the messages, Lell made the flirt (Özil called Rickinger „Baby“) via Facebook public.

Özils at the time girlfriend Mandy Capristo broke up with the World cup winner of 2010, after Lell made the messages public. Today Mesut Özil stands in a relationship with the Swedish Model Amine Gülşe.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw6A6fAAqmN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Rafael Van der Vaart (36)
Shortly after the separation of former hamburg defender Khalid Boulahrouz and his former wife Sabia Boulahrouz, Rafael Van der Vaart and Sabia Boulahrouz were an official couple.

A lot of tabloid newspapers speculated that Rafael had an affair with Sabia while she was Khalid Boulahrouz‘ wife. Nonetheless Rafaels relationship with Sabia didn’t last long.

Today Rafael Van der Vaart is in a relationship with the Dutch handball player Estavana Polman and even has a kid with her.

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Burnout: Darum benötigten diese europäischen Top-Coaches eine Auszeit

Jürgen Klopp 2015 nach seinem Engagement bei Borussia Dortmund, Thomas Tuchel gar zweimal (2014 nach fünf Jahren FSV Mainz 05 und 2017 nach zwei Jahren Borussia Dortmund), erfolgreichen Fußballtrainern wird immer mehr abverlangt und der Drang nach einer Auszeit immer höher. Diese internationalen Star-Trainer wählten ebenso diesen Weg und machten ein Sabbatical.

Zinedine Zidane (46)
Nachdem Zidane für knapp vier Jahre bei Real Madrid als Co-Trainer und Trainer der Nachwuchsmannschaften fungierte, stieg er 2016 zum Cheftrainer auf und feierte in seiner knapp 3-jährigen Amtszeit unglaubliche Erfolge.

Er gewann dreimal in Folge die Champions League und konnte sich mit seinem Team außerdem die spanische Meisterschaft sichern. Völlig überraschend verkündete er zum Ende der Saison 2017/18 seinen Rücktritt. „Nach drei Jahren ist es denke ich an der Zeit zu gehen. Es ist schwierig nach dieser langen Zeit weiter als Trainer tätig zu sein“, erklärte Zidane in der Abschluss-Pressekonferenz. „Ich sah es definitiv als nicht gegeben, dass wir weiter gewinnen werden. Es gibt einen Moment, bei dem du merkst, dass es besser ist etwas zu verändern, als zu lange zu bleiben und Fehler zu machen“, gab Zidane damals Auskunft über seine Beweggründe. Sein Berater Alain Migliaccio ergänzte gegenüber „Le Journal Du Dimanche“ Zidane sei „nervlich erschöpft“ gewesen. Seit zwei Monaten, also knapp zehn Monate später, ist Zidane zurückgekehrt – als Trainer von Real Madrid.

Pep Guardiola (48)
Guardiola stieg, nachdem er für ein Jahr die Reserve des FC Barcelona trainierte, 2008 zum Cheftrainer auf.

Die Erfolge, die er in seiner knapp 4-jährigen Amtszeit feierte, waren phänomenal. Er sammelte insgesamt 14 Titel, darunter zweimal die Champions League, drei spanische Meisterschaften und zweimal den spanischen Pokal. Doch danach war erst einmal Schluss. „Vier Jahre sind bei Barcelona eine Ewigkeit“, erklärte Guardiola in seiner Abschluss-Pressekonferenz. „Ich bin erschöpft und muss wieder auftanken. Die Anforderungen waren sehr hoch und ein Manager muss stark sein. Ein neuer Coach wird neue Dinge einbringen, die ich nicht mehr leisten kann. Du kannst dich nur erholen, wenn du dich ausruhst. Es wäre eine sehr schlechte Entscheidung gewesen weiterzumachen. Wir haben zu viele starke Dinge zusammen erlebt, als jetzt der Gefahr ausgesetzt zu sein, dass es schiefgeht. Ich weiß, dass hier der bestmögliche Platz ist, aber es ist an der Zeit zu gehen. Ich bin nicht nur mit den Ergebnissen, sondern vor allem in der Art und Weise, wie sie zustande gekommen sind, zufrieden“, erklärte Guardiola umfassend. Guardiola zog anschließend für ein Jahr nach New York, lernte Englisch und Deutsch. Die beiden Sprachen, die er bei seinen darauffolgenden Trainerstationen beim FC Bayern München und bei Manchester City, benötigte. Ob er in Manchester auch Italienisch lernte? Es wäre nicht verwunderlich, wenn er nach Stationen in Spanien, Deutschland und England als nächstes in Italien als Erfolgs-Coach in Erscheinung treten würde.

Luis Enrique (49)

Nach einjährigen Trainer-Stationen beim AS Rom und Celta Vigo bekleidete Enrique 2014 das Amt als Barca-Cheftrainer.

In seiner dreijährigen Amtszeit holte Enrique neun Titel, darunter die Champions League, zwei spanische Meisterschaften und dreimal den spanischen Pokal. Doch im Sommer 2017 war für ihn die Barca-Zeit beendet. „Wenn ich Barcelona verlasse, mein Zuhause, wo ich eine großartige Beziehung mit dem Verein und den Spielern führe, dann ist es rein aus Ermüdung. Ich muss mich erholen. Ich denke nicht über andere Vereine nach. Es wird ein Jahr sein, das ich brauche, um mich zu erholen“, begründete Enrique seine Auszeit. Während seiner Auszeit verschwand der Spanier fast komplett aus der Öffentlichkeit. Lediglich bei professionellen Mountainbike-Wettkämpfen trat der erfolgreiche Ex-Profi ( unter anderem drei spanische Meisterschaften) in Erscheinung. Seit Sommer 2018 ist er Nationaltrainer Spaniens und will seine „La Furia Roja“ im nächsten Jahr zum EM-Titel führen.

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Fußballer ohne Social Media: Darum verzichten diese Stars auf Instagram und Co.

Fußballer und Social Media – das gehört eigentlich zum Alltag. So haben Cristiano Ronaldos, Neymars und Lionel Messis Instagram-Accounts zusammen knapp 400 Millionen Fans. Doch es gibt tatsächlich noch zwei Ausnahmen im internationalen Fußball, die Social Media ablehnen.

Daniele De Rossi (35)

In einem Interview im italienischen Magazin Undici offenbarte die Roma-Legende, was er von Social Media hält.

„Als wir anfingen, vor 20 Jahren, war alles anders. Heute kommt ein 20-Jähriger in die Startelf und hat mehr Instagram-Follower als Messi“, sagte De Rossi gegenüber Undici. „Glauben Sie mir, ein paar dieser Spieler verärgern mich auch. Wenn ich sehe, wie sie vor Spielbeginn in der Umkleidekabine Instagram-Live-Videos schalten, würde ich am liebsten einen Baseballschläger in ihr Gesicht hämmern. Aber sie sind 18 Jahre alt und in 20 Jahren werden dann auch sie sich über die Jugend von heute beschweren“, so De Rossi gegenüber Undici. De Rossi, der sich stets ehrlich und loyal präsentierte und sich nach 18 stolzen Jahren AS Rom neue Gedanken über seine Zukunft machen muss, wird, wie man ihn kennt, auch in Zukunft nicht auf Social Media zu sehen sein.

Joel Matip (27)

Während Joel Matips Bruder Marvin seit knapp fünf Jahren einen Instagram-Account pflegt, ist Liverpool-Star und Ex-Schalker Joel in der Social-Media-Welt nicht aufzufinden.

Der jüngere Bruder vom Ingolstadt-Kapitän hat sich während seiner Zeit beim FC Liverpool zum Innenverteidiger auf absolutem Weltklasse-Niveau entwickelt. Den Drang sich und sein wahrscheinlich erfüllendes Leben auf Social Media mitzuteilen, hat der bodenständig gebliebene Matip bis heute nicht bekommen. Er konzentriert sich lieber auf das, was er am liebsten macht – gut Fußball spielen.

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Homosexuelle Fußballer: Diese Profis outeten sich und sorgten für ein Novum

In Deutschland war Thomas Hitzlsperger 2014 der erste Profi, der sich öffentlich zu seiner Homosexualität bekannt hat. Es kam Hoffnung auf, dass in der Männerdomäne Fußball homosexuelle Spieler akzeptiert werden und weitere Profis zu ihrer Sexualität stehen. Doch weit gefehlt – fünf Jahre später ist es laut Chelsea-Star Olivier Giroud weiterhin „unmöglich“ seine Homosexualität im Fußball-Geschäft zu bekennen. Diese beiden Profis wagten in Australien und den USA diesen Schritt und machten ihre Sexualität über die Sozialen Medien öffentlich. Ein Vorbild für die europäischen Ligen?

Andy Brennan (26)
Der in der A-League (Erste Australische Liga) aktive Brennan outete sich am 14. Mai 2019 als erster Australischer Profifußballer.

In einem Essay, der von Professional Footballers Australia veröffentlicht wurde, schrieb Brennan unter anderem: „Seitdem ich darüber sprach, lernte ich die Leute in meinem Umkreis viel besser kennen – sie sind einfach unglaublich damit umgegangen. Aber ich spürte, dass noch eine große Hürde bevorstand. Wie soll ich damit an die Öffentlichkeit gehen? Während meiner gesamten Fußballkarriere gab es in Australien bisher keinen Fußballer, der sich öffentlich geoutet hat, geschweige denn keinen homosexuellen Fußballer, den ich kannte. Weltweit gesehen ist es unglaublich, wie wenige Fußballprofis sich während ihrer Karriere geoutet haben. Als ich bei den Newcastle Jets gespielt habe, wollte ich meine Sexualität nicht akzeptieren. Zu dieser Zeit war ich sehr damit fokussiert auf dem Platz mein Bestes zu geben, auch wenn ich ab und an verletzt war. Ich gab mein bestes, um sämtliche Konzentration und Kraft mit in das Spiel zu nehmen, was aber vielleicht einen Teil von mir zurückgedrängt hat. Es hat Zeit gebraucht, bis ich realisiert habe, dass ich mit dieser Lüge nicht weiterleben kann, dass ich glücklich sein wollte mit dem der ich bin. Ab einem gewissen Punkt hast du zu realisieren, dass du das einfach bist und dass du einfach du selbst sein musst. Es ist ein seltsames Gefühl, aber ich denke, dass ich hier in Australien die Mauer durchbreche. […] Ich denke es ist sehr wichtig, dass andere Spieler sehen, dass es einen anderen gibt, der sich geoutet hat, dass es viele andere Menschen gibt, die gleich sind und dass es so gut ist“, schrieb Brennan in seinem am 14. Mai auf Professional Footballers Australia veröffentlichten Essay.

Collin Martin (24)

Der beim MLS-Club Minnesota United in den USA unter Vertrag stehende Martin outete sich am 29. Juni 2018 über Twitter und ist seitdem laut NBC News der erste und einzige sich offen bekennende homosexuelle Spieler aus den wichtigsten Sportligen ( MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS) in den Vereinigten Staaten und Kanada.

In einem exklusiven Interview mit NBC News offenbarte er, dass seine Team-Kollegen vor dem öffentlichen Outing schon von seiner Homosexualität wussten. „Es war für mich danach so einfach ihnen von meinem nächsten Schritt zu erzählen“, sagte Martin gegenüber NBC News. „Ich bin derzeit der einzige da draußen“, so Martin, der bisher 38 Partien in der Major League Soccer absolvierte. „Ich denke es ist wichtig. Ich denke die Leute müssen das hören und ich denke, dass es noch andere hier draußen gibt“, ergänzte Martin. „Sport im allgemeinen, egal welches Niveau: College, Jugendbereich, Profi-Bereich. Solange du du selbst bist und ehrlich zu deinen Team-Kollegen bist, akzeptieren dich die Leute von ganzem Herzen“, erklärte Martin.

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