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| AFP |
During Niklas Süle's final interview as a professional footballer, a curious moment arises: the centre-back suddenly feels peckish.
During his conversation with Sky presenter Sebastian Hellmann on the "Spielmacher" podcast, Süle announced his retirement. His contract with BVB expires at the end of the season. During the chat, he highlighted the standout moments of his 13-year professional career and candidly discussed his recurring weight issues. Towards the end, he even paused the interview to retrieve a bulging McDonald's bag from an adjoining room.
First things first. Before Süle presented his greasy gift, he stressed his principles and said he had never compromised his character. "At every club I've been to, I've made it clear who I am. Back then, I told Dortmund: 'If you're looking for a captain who shouts his head off – that's not me.' I spent an hour alone with Marco Rose, and he got me so motivated I felt ready to set the world on fire. He truly understood me. So I ended up as second or third captain and still wore the armband 15 times, even though I'd already explained I wasn't the shouting type. I thought, 'Maybe they're doing this because they say, "Hey, he earns the money, so he has to lead the way."' Why did I fit so well at Bayern for so long? Because there were other players who took on that role. Everyone in the team knew that,' he explained, adding, 'I don't say a word during the game.'
"I never forced anyone and said, 'Now pay me this and sign me!' I always played a different game. Anyone who says otherwise is lying." His agent, Volker Struth, had warned him about his candour. "Sometimes you have to watch that you're not too honest," he noted. "I've met thousands of players in my career and I don't think anyone would stand up and say, 'That Süle, he's a prick.' I can't imagine that. The person has always been much more important to me than playing 30 more games. That matters."
He admitted, "I certainly didn't get everything right," yet added, "I'm prouder of that than five league titles or five Champions League trophies. I've always stayed true to myself; sport never went to my head. My family and closest friends are very proud of that, and I know it," he said, his eyes filling with tears. "It almost makes me emotional." Moments later, the McDonald's bag made its grand entrance, prompting Hellmann to burst into laughter.
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| Getty Images |
Süle has repeatedly struggled with weight issues
"I don't know what time it is, but I'm starving," Süle declared with a broad grin, then stepped out of the room. "If this is my last interview as a pro, I'll order twelve cheeseburgers. There are four of us, so three each—simple maths—but I usually polish off six myself. That was just a little joke, in case anyone fancied one." Nevertheless, he took a bite out of a cheeseburger shortly afterwards and explained, with his mouth full, that he'd thought of the joke during the car journey. Hellmann helped himself too.
A few minutes earlier, Süle had opened up about the pressure he felt over his weight during his career. At FC Bayern Munich, he once fasted the day before a weigh-in and sweated in a raincoat inside a sauna to shed pounds quickly.
- Tim Ursinus
