The nominees in the category “Coach 2017” have been selected. The Jury of the German Football Ambassador e.V. nominates Horst Kriete, Michael Krüger and Bernd Storck as possible successors of Gernot Rohr. These three coaches have contributed in a great way to the development of sports and society abroad.

Three nominees have been chosen by a six-member Jury, chaired by Rainer Holzschuh.

Horst Kriete is a football instructor who manages different FIFA development measures, particulary in the area of children and youth programs.  Altogether Kriete worked in over 30 countries all over the world. The longest professional station was China (2005-2009), where he worked as a technical advisor for the Chinese Football Federation.

Michael Krüger is associated closely with the African continent. As a coach he worked among other countries in Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. During his time on the African continent, former Hannover 96 coach, managed to win seven major titles and sparked a new excitement for football.

Bernd Storck leveraged the Hungarian national team to a better standing in the European football and shapes a new structural development threw his engagement as national coach. Previously, Storck worked in Kazachstan, Greece and Serbia.   

The jury’s decision is based on different criteria. Among others, the standing abroad, sporting successes of the coach and a sustainable functioning played an important role in the decision-making. Chairmen of the Jury Rainer Holzschuh: “The three nominees represent a variety of German coaches that work under most difficult circumstances abroad and contribute to a positive image of Germany”.

With this nomination we honor the excellent work of the nominees and call attention to the engagement of German coaches all over the world.