Christian Streich often takes a clear stance on topics that go far beyond football. For this, the SC Freiburg coach was awarded the Julius Hirsch Honorary Prize in Berlin.
Coach Christian Streich was honored in Berlin with the Julius Hirsch Honorary Award from the German Football Association (DFB). The 58-year-old repeatedly speaks out not only about football, but also about political and social issues. He has been head coach of SC Freiburg for almost twelve years.
In addition to the honorary award for Streich, the Chemnitz district association Athletic Sonnenberg and the non-profit association ASA-FF, also based in Chemnitz, were also honored by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf. Both clubs share first place. The traditional Frankfurt club SG Bornheim 1945 eV Grün-Weiss landed in second place. The Jewish sports association Makkabi Germany was awarded third place.
“Discrimination has no place on or off the football field
“We are committed to the inviolability of human dignity with all our might. Discrimination and xenophobia have no place on or off the football field. This is what this year’s award winners also stand for,” said DFB President Neuendorf. “Especially these days we feel very close to our friends in Israel.”
Christian Streich a role model for moral courage”
Addressing Streich, Neuendorf found, among other things, the following words: “For a decade, Christian Streich has been using the stage of professional football to take an honest and clear stand against xenophobia, racism and discrimination and to advocate for respect and basic democratic values. His always authentic statements are calling He not only encourages moral courage, but is himself a role model for it.” Previously, the actor Matthias Brand, son of Willy Brandt, gave the eulogy in a prank.
Streich is visibly moved
“When I hear about the projects there are and the commitment people have, it has an invaluable value. I, on the other hand, go to work in the morning and go home in the evening; I don’t do voluntary work at all. That’s not a small difference. It’s unbelievable for me to receive this award,” said the visibly touched Streich, who was impressed by the award-winning clubs. “It’s about showing a form of moral courage.”
With the foundation of the Julius Hirsch Prize, the association has been commemorating the German-Jewish national football player Julius Hirsch, who was murdered in Auschwitz, since 2005. The common signal is being sent: “Never again,” emphasized Neuendorf. The prize is endowed with a total of 21,000 euros. The honorary award is awarded at irregular intervals.
