World Soccer Made in Germany

Long before Germany knew it was to host the 2006 World Cup, the country had another claim to soccer fame: its world renowned soccer coaching program, now finishing its 50th season.

Indeed, the German Soccer Association's decision just after World War II to offer a special training program for up-and-coming football coaches turned out to be a shrewd one.

The legendary Sepp Herberger (photo, below), who led the German national team to win the World Cup in 1954, was the mastermind of the soccer coach training program.

"The soccer coach training program started back in 1947 at our university," said Walter Tokarski, director of the German Sport University in Cologne, adding that all the directors of the program were also successful teachers or even trained here themselves -- people like Herberger, Hennes Weisweiler, Gero Bisanz and now Erich Rutemöller.

Since then, over one thousand students have gained their state-approved degrees as soccer coaches. While they were originally expected to work in Germany, they've meanwhile become one of the country's best exports, said Gero Bisanz, who directed the coach training program for nearly 30 years.

"Our courses continue to have an excellent international reputation," Bisanz said. "Former soccer players from all five continents and 49 different national associations of the international FIFA association have completed their course of studies at our university."

A model program

The Cologne program has been a model for training courses in Japan, Malaysia, and Iran. But European countries also work together and recognize each others' coaching licenses, said Erich Rutemöller, director of the Cologne coach training program.

"We have a Dutch colleague completing his degree right now," Rutemöller said. "He first got his coaching licenses in the Netherlands, is now getting his training degree here with us and will go on to become a professional coach in the Ukraine first division league."

The training program lasts six months and combines coaching and sports theory, sports medicine, and practical experience, including a one-month internship at a German Soccer League club. Following two-week long exams, graduates can apply for a license as a soccer trainer with the German Soccer Association and then coach professionally throughout Europe.

Women have been attending the soccer coach academy in Cologne since 1985. Thirteen have completed the program so far. One graduate, Tina Theune-Meyer (photo, right), led the German Women's soccer team to their first World Cup victory in 2003.