Robert Jaspert, Uwe Rösler and Anja Zivkovic are nominated
In May 2020, it will be presented for the eighth time, the Award German Football Ambassador of the non-profit organisation carrying the same name. Who will follow the current title holder Jürgen Klopp, who was named German Football Ambassador last year before he began his impressive collection of titles as Champions League winner, world coach and FIFA Club World Champion?
The jury nominated three German candidates for their outstanding work abroad, who have made a special contribution to the sporting and social development in their countries of activity and thus contributed to Germany’s positive image in the world: Anja Zivkovic (born Palusevic), Uwe Rösler, Robert Jaspert.
Founder Roland Bischof: “All three nominees have made a major contribution during their many years of work abroad. We want to honour this and I thank the jury for the interesting selection”. The jury is made up of Doris Fitschen, Rainer Holzschuh (chairman), Horst Hrubesch, Lutz Pfannenstiel, Dr. Martin Schäfer and Berti Vogts.
Anja Zivkovic began her career abroad in 2008 while she was still active (1987 to 2011 junior national team and player in the 2nd Women’s Bundesliga). Since 2009 she has been working for the DFB (German Football Association) and since 2011 for FIFA and UEFA as an instructor, coach and analyst for women’s football and has travelled the world extensively. In recent years Anja Zivkovic has worked on projects in India, Jordan, Tonga, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, to name just a few out of more than 50 countries.
Uwe Rösler has a special relationship with England, Norway and Sweden. The soccer coach has been playing for the famous club Manchester City, now coached by Pep Guardiola, since 1994, and has even made it into the Hall of Fame as a public favourite. After further stations in England and Norway, his active career was abruptly stopped by cancer. After surviving the illness, Uwe Rösler remained active abroad, then as a coach, for Lillestrøm SK, Viking Stavanger, Molde FK, Leeds United, Wigan Athletic or Fleetwood Town, among others. Rösler achieved great successes with, among others, the former third division club FC Brentford, as well as with his current last stop, the Swedish first division club Malmö FF.
The third nominee, Robert Jaspert, the current coach of the Lebanese first division club Safa Beirut SC, commented on his nomination: “I consider this a special pleasure and honour.” The studied molecular biologist (formerly at the Robert Koch Institute) has been supporting associations abroad for more than a decade. Starting from an engagement with world champion Pierre Littbarski in Duisburg, Jaspert was fascinated to travel the world. Besides, he also coached the South Korean national team in 2004 with Jo Bonfrere, who defeated the German national team 3:1 in a test match. Stations in Lebanon, Iran, Liechtenstein and Bahrain followed. The league activities in Lebanon are currently interrupted due to the political situation in the country – this also shows under which conditions the ambassadors of German football sometimes act.
The nomination is intended to acknowledge the commitment of the three coaches. All nominations are already connected with the support of social projects.