'Der Kaiser' helps China put on its game face

Franz Beckenbauer poses for photos with a young Chinese football player in Beijing July 15, 2015. [Photo provided for chinadaily.com.cn]

Franz Beckenbauer says China is putting its best foot forward in ramping up efforts to ensure future international soccer success.

"Young players represent the future of football and are going to be the backbone of the national squad, so it is the right call for China to enhance its development of the youth game," the 69-year-old German legend told China Daily last week.

Beckenbauer - one of only two men to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager - was making his fifth tour of China. After watching a youth club training session in Beijing, he said he was impressed by the nation's efforts to improve the sport.

"They are reshuffling the institution and rebuilding the foundation of football, which is a good start. But these things can't be done in one or two years; it could take one or two generations. Time and patience are needed," said the former Germany captain and two-time European Footballer of the Year, who was nicknamed 'Der Kaiser' during his heyday with Bayern Munich and the New York Cosmos.

In a comprehensive reform plan for Chinese soccer issued by the State Council in March, a string of initiatives were introduced, including more instruction in the sport at regular schools and increasing the number of specialized "soccer schools" from the current 5,000-plus to 20,000 by 2020 and to 50,000 by 2025.

The overall reform plan involves all levels of the game, from the grassroots to professional clubs and leagues.

The nation's No 1 soccer fan, President Xi Jinping, has repeatedly stressed a desire to see China's red jersey return to the World Cup - and Beckenbauer said he understands that resolve.

He pointed out that Germany's World Cup aspirations hit a low point in the early 2000s and struggled for several years before the authorities stepped in. Germany recaptured the crown in 2014.

"Our team didn't perform well at Euro 2000. Then the German soccer bosses carried out reforms and we began to see youth academies and training centers opened by clubs in the Bundesliga," said Beckenbauer.

He also weighed in on the debate about whether China's pro circuit relies too heavily on imported stars at the expense of homegrown talent.

"Introducing big-name foreign coaches and players is not enough. The foundation lies in the training of young players, and that is what we should pay the most attention to," said Beckenbauer.

So how can China's next generation of stars best hone their ability?

For 'Der Kaiser', the answer is clear: repetition.

"I told a young Chinese player that in order to be successful you need passion to play the game. Beside talent, you must put in a lot of hard work, which means training, training ... and more training," he said.

After ending his glittering playing career more than 30 years ago, Beckenbauer now wants to pass on his expertise to young Chinese players and support expansion of the country's sports industry with his Camp Beckenbauer project.

Following his scouting trip to Beijing, the legendary defender and former Germany captain said youth soccer offers insights into China's sports industry chain.

"I pay a lot of attention to the development of youth soccer; the level of youth participation reflects the future of a country's sports. I come to China not as a coach, but from the perspective of promoting the development of sports," he said.

"It is not just about soccer. Camp Beckenbauer focuses on the future of the whole sports industry.

"We have many honorable guest speakers who are high-ranking officials at FIFA and the IOC, so we think people will be interested in joining us."

The first Camp Beckenbauer Asia will be held in Shanghai next April.

Zhou Wa contributed to this story.

yanweijue@chinadaily.com.cn