After 16 years in professional football, Jörg Böhme decided this past Saturday to bring his Bundesliga career to an end. The 34-year old spent Arminia Bielefeld's entire 2:2 draw against VfB Stuttgart on the bench. Still, he says helping Bielefeld stay in the top flight is a fitting way to end his playing days.
A diamond in the rough, Böhme won the DFB Cup twice with FC Schalke 04, and was World Cup runner-up with Germany in 2002. He tells bundesliga.de about his plans for the future, Bielefeld's staying in the top flight and the highs and lows of his career.
bundesliga.de: Arminia's 2:2 draw in Stuttgart was your last game as a pro. Even if you were just a spectator, was the game a fitting end to your career?
Jörg Böhme: Yes, I think so. For me, in my last year as a player, Arminia staying in the top flight is just as big as Bayern winning the title. Because there's nothing worse for a player or a club than being relegated.
bundesliga.de: What did Bielefeld do differently in order to avoid the drop?
Böhme: We concentrated all our efforts — not only the team, but also the coaching staff, the organization, the club and the fans helped. And I think that was the deciding factor.
bundesliga.de: You'll be staying on in Bielefeld even though your playing days are over. What made you decide to become co-trainer of Arminia's under-23 squad, and what do you expect from your new job?
Böhme: We were in talks for a long time. For 16 years, I was an active agent here, so to speak. The new job will be a learning experience for me, but I'm ready for the challenge.
bundesliga.de: Can you imagine coaching in the Bundesliga some day? Or do you have other aims for the future?
Böhme: As I said, I'm now in the learning phase, and I'll have to see if this is a direction I really want to move in. At the moment, I have to get to the point where I can coach every aspect of the game. Then we can talk again next year and see how things look.
bundesliga.de: Let's look at your playing career again. What were the high and low points of your time as a player?
Böhme: That's hard to say. There have been several in 16 years. My time at Gladbach was definitely not the greatest. There were certain things that just didn't work out so well there. The high point of my career was of course playing in the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, and coming in second in that tournament. At the club level, it would have to be my time at Schalke, when we won the DFB Cup twice. And also the four fine years in Bielefeld.
bundesliga.de: How do you think Jörg Böhme will be remembered by football fans?
Böhme: I hope in a positive way! I always gave my all. I always wanted to win at any price. And every now and then I made an impact.
bundesliga.de: One final question, about the EURO 2008. How do you rate coach Jogi Löw's squad, and who do you think is going to win the tournament?
Böhme: In my opinion, Germany would've won the World Cup in 2006 if we'd had Oliver Kahn in goal. He would've kept out the 0:1 goal against Italy. But that's another story. Now the coaches have to pick someone else. And I think we'll make it into the final this year and play against Italy once again.
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