Archive · 17 Nov 2025
Matthaus: India Needs Top Coaches, Germany Lacks Passion
Lothar Matthaus, a famous German soccer player, visited Kolkata and shared his thoughts on how India can get better at soccer.
He said that India needs really good coaches, and the best way to get them is to have famous ex-players teach the Indian coaches.
He thinks it's strange that India, with so many people, doesn't make it to the World Cup when tiny countries like Cape Verde do.
Matthaus also talked about his own country, Germany, saying that their soccer team has been losing in the World Cup recently because they don't play with enough heart and friendship, unlike in the past.
He believes a good coach can help bring that important spirit back to the German team.
Lothar Matthaus believes India needs to hire top-tier coaches, ideally legends and former players, to develop better football talent starting at the school level.
Matthaus questioned why India, the world's most populous country, fails to qualify for the World Cup while smaller nations like Cape Verde succeed.
He emphasized the need for a coordinated system involving the football federation, government, clubs, and academies in India to achieve common goals.
Matthaus attributed Germany's recent World Cup eliminations to a lack of passion and camaraderie within the team.
He suggested that a coach can help revive the passion and togetherness needed for Germany to be considered a favorite again in international tournaments.
- Who
- Lothar Matthaus, German football legend
- What
- Stressed the need for India to hire top-tier coaches and expressed concern over Germany's lack of passion and camaraderie, impacting their World Cup performance.
- When
- Sunday
- Where
- Kolkata
- Why
- While speaking to the media in his capacity as the brand ambassador for the Bengal Super League, Matthaus shared his views on Indian and German football.
Matthaus's View
Context/Analysis
Indian Football Development
Matthaus's View
India must import legendary and former players to train their coaches, starting at the school level, to produce better footballers. It's unacceptable that the world's most populous country fails to qualify for the World Cup while smaller nations succeed.
Context/Analysis
Matthaus suggests a systematic approach involving the football federation, government, clubs, and academies working together for a common goal, similar to India's success in other sports like cricket, hockey, and chess.
German National Team Performance
Matthaus's View
Germany's recent World Cup eliminations are due to a lack of passion and camaraderie within the team. The coach needs to instill this passion for Germany to regain its status as a favorite.
Context/Analysis
Germany, a four-time World Cup winner, has been eliminated in the group stages in the last two tournaments, a performance Matthaus believes is below standard due to a loss of the passion and togetherness seen in previous decades.
- Key Figure
- Lothar Matthaus (German football legend, 1990 World Cup winner)
- Event Location
- Kolkata
- Matthaus's Role in India
- Brand ambassador of the Bengal Super League
- Matthaus's Advice for India
- Import legends and former players to train Indian coaches, starting at the school level.
- Matthaus's Criticism of Germany
- Lack of passion and camaraderie in recent World Cup performances.
- Example of Small Nation Success
- Cape Verde qualifying for the World Cup
Sources
Indian football needs better coaches in youth system to uplift its status, says FIFA WC-winner Lothar Matthaus
Lothar Matthaus on Maradona, Messi vs Ronaldo debate and Germany’s football future - Telegraph India
India needs good coaches to produce better footballers: Lothar Matthaus
