Uli Hoeneß Honored with Legends Award; Reflects on German Football and Personal Struggles

At the 2026 Sport Bild Awards held in Hamburg, Uli Hoeneß, honorary president of Bayern Munich, was bestowed with the prestigious Legends Award in recognition of his lifelong contributions to German football. The ceremony, attended by around 700 guests, celebrated several top athletes, including Alexander Zverev as Star of the Year and FC Schalke 04 as Rookie of the Year.

In his acceptance speech, Hoeneß expressed profound pride in his journey from humble beginnings, recalling his upbringing near a small butcher shop in Ulm and emphasizing the value of hard work. He reflected emotionally on a pivotal moment from the 2014 World Cup when, while incarcerated for tax evasion, he watched Germany’s final match from his prison cell. Hoeneß recounted hearing Bastian Schweinsteiger publicly thank him on television, a moment he described as deeply moving and one that brought him to tears.

Hoeneß also voiced criticism of the current state of the German national team, condemning their recent America trip as a “business trip” lacking seriousness and discipline. He urged players to adopt a more rigorous work ethic and insisted that tournaments must be approached with commitment, not as vacations. Moreover, he lamented deficiencies in Germany’s youth football development, contrasting it with his own experience of playing street football after school.

Addressing broader issues, Hoeneß suggested Jürgen Klopp would be the best available coach option for the national team but warned that challenges stem from wider societal comfort, which diminishes the hunger for success seen in players from countries like Brazil, Portugal, or Argentina. His comments call for a revival of dedication across the board to restore German football’s competitive edge.

This award ceremony highlighted Germany’s sports achievements, with other honorees including Harry Kane as Football Star of the Year and Julia Taubitz for the Olympic Award. Hoeneß’s reflections linked personal hardship, national pride, and a critical call to action for German football’s future prosperity.