Handball-EM: Schwarzer-Interview:”Kretzsche is a big sensitive girl”.

Christian “Blacky” Schwarzer is one of the great legends of German handball. He has won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games. In an interview with SPOX, the 48-year-old talks about the winter fairy tale 2007, hot duels with Stefan Kretzschmar, his friendship with Dirk Nowitzki and the exciting time at FC Barcelona. In addition, the former circular rotor evaluates the position of the DHB team before the European Championship in Croatia.

SPOX: Mr. Schwarzer, your name is closely associated with the Winter Fairy Tale 2007. There was this incredible moment when, after two matches, you returned to the pitch as a TV expert and finally won the World Cup title in your own country. How did it happen that you were suddenly back in the squad again?

Christian Schwarzer: There is a little prehistory about this. I’ve always been in contact with Heiner Brand months before. Eventually he asked me if he could accept me into the provisional squad despite three years of DHB abstinence. Of course I agreed to that, although I wanted to make a dream come true with a friend of mine in January 2007, shortly before the start of the World Cup, by visiting Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas. On the eve of departure, my mobile phone rang and the name of the national trainer was on the display.

SPOX: What happened then?

Schwarzer: I said to my wife:”I’m not answering the phone, I want to go to Dallas tomorrow morning” She just replied:”Go ahead, it won’t be that bad” (laughs) Heiner told me about two injured circle runners. I could fly, but I should be ready, because he might have to act.

SPOX: Until the start of the World Cup, however, everyone was fit again and you were able to pursue your job as an expert.

Blacker: Right. After the second game against Argentina, however, my ZDF partner Yorck Polus approached me and said:”Man Blacky, it was fun with you. But it’s over for you.” I didn’t know what he wanted. However, he had learned from the cabin that Andrej Klimovets had torn his muscles and was now sure to see me on the playing field the next day. Shortly after 10 pm I was back in Lemgo, so Heiner called again.

SPOX: He had already re-nominated you.

Schwarzer: Without informing me. They didn’t have time for that at the DHB. They found out at 9.50 p. m. that the nomination deadline ends at 10 p. m. and not, as expected, at 10 a. m. the next day. A written application has therefore been submitted to the IHF within ten minutes. I packed my bag after Heiner’s call and went to the hotel the next morning for breakfast with the crew.

SPOX: Brand later said he was anything but sure that Germany would have won the world championship without you. All in all, they have a special relationship with the former national coach.

Schwarzer: The fact that he brought me back at that time and immediately gave me my old position within the team again shows that this relationship of trust shows. It was almost like a father-son relationship. It was correspondingly easy for me to get back into this team immediately.

SPOX: You have experienced an incredible amount with the national team. Is the 2007 World Cup title the moment that comes first in personal ranking?

Schwarzer: My favorite medal – even though it sounds strange – is the silver medal from the Olympic Games in Athens. Olympic Games fascinated me all my life. Being there once was my greatest dream. I can’t put this feeling into words today, when you live in a village with thousands of the world’s best athletes in a very confined space. In the end, I was allowed to participate in Olympia four times and now I have this silver medal at home in my showcase. For me, this is incredibly important.

SPOX: You won this medal with Stefan Kretzschmar, with whom you shared a room with the national team for a long time. Kretzsche once said that your stoic calm almost drove him insane. What did he drive you crazy with?

Schwarzer: He never really did that. Heiner deliberately chose this station wagon. He wanted to have someone at Kretzsche’s who would brake him and, in case of doubt, bring him back to the ground. Although we are very different, it was a good fit and we get along very well. However, there were also some days when Kretzsche didn’t speak to me any more.

SPOX: Why?

Schwarzer: We played basketball against each other more often – one-on-one. He often suffered bitter defeats and Kretzsche is someone who can lose very badly. He was always complaining, I would be unfair and play with too much physical contact. Then he was personally insulted, but after a while he died down again. (laughs)

SPOX: Another example of how Stefan Kretzschmar, contrary to his image, is a rather sensitive type, isn’t it?

Schwarzer: There is a picture of Kretzsche, which he himself – also for the media – cultivated. He could hide a little bit behind this image. But if you have met him for a long time like I have, you know that he is completely different. He’s a very sensitive man.

SPOX: You have already mentioned Dirk Nowitzki, whom you met earlier through Kretzsche. Are you still friends with him?

Schwarzer: I booked my flight to Dallas just a few weeks ago. It looks like it could be Dirk’s last season and I really want to see him play again. In the summer, I was at his charity soccer match and agreed with him. Actually, we wanted to launch Action 2017 in order to celebrate an anniversary exactly ten years after the last visit, so to speak. Unfortunately this didn’t work out, so I am travelling to Dallas with a friend at the end of January. During this time, the Mavericks will play three home games in five days, which we will all be watching. I am extremely looking forward to visiting Dirk.

SPOX: Nowitzkis great career is coming to an end, as already mentioned. What status does it have for you in German sport?

Schwarzer: For me, Dirk is on the same level as Franz Beckenbauer and Boris Becker, i. e. right at the top. It should not be forgotten that it was more difficult for Dirk than for others in Germany because he is so far away. Nevertheless, its radiance still shines across the pond to us. I admire him above all for his dealings with other people, especially children. He won’t deny anyone a photo, give everyone an autograph, take time for everyone. Despite his position, he remained the Dirk Nowitzki, whom he always was. This has a lot to do with his family background. Anyone who talks to his parents knows how much importance they have always attached to the fact that their son doesn’t turn into a lofty star. He’s just an ordinary guy. You know what else fascinates me?

SPOX: Tell us about it.

Schwarzer: As is well known, Dirk has repeatedly waived money so that the Mavs could commit better players. This is almost unique in sport. In any case, I can’t think of a single athlete who would have been willing to do that.

Page 1: Schwarzer on the 2007 World Cup, Duels with Kretzsche and his friend Nowitzki

Page 2: Black people about his time in Barcelona and encounters with football stars

Page 3: Blacks about the upcoming European Championship and its end at DHB