ZURICH: Joachim Loew’s feat in guiding Germany to the 2014 World Cup trophy earned him the coach of the year award at the FIFA Ballon D’Or ceremony in Zurich on Monday.
The 54-year-old beat Carlo Ancelotti — who coached Real Madrid to their 10th Champions League title — and Atletico Madrid’s Argentinian handler Diego Simeone, who took them to the Spanish title and to the Champions League final.
Loew, who moved up from assistant coach to the top job after the 2006 World Cup which Germany hosted and reached the semifinals, said that the award rounded off a sensational year.
“It is for me a huge honour, it is the icing on the cake and the cake was winning the World Cup,” said Loew.
Loew, who also guided Germany to the Euro 2008 final where they lost to Spain, said that Germany’s win in Brazil was no accident but had been the fruits of long hard labour.
“Winning the World Cup was the consequence of many years hard work and lots of right decisions.”
Loew, who was an industrious midfielder in his playing days and turned out four times for the then West Germany, paid tribute to his players who secured the trophy with a 1-0 win over Argentina, a goal in extra-time by Mario Goetze proving the difference.
“I was lucky to have a superb team too who were always there for me and always put the ideas into practice,” said Loew.
It was a gift to be able to work with such a group of players.”(AFP)
