Soccer diplomacy
Mesut Özil, Anja Mittag, Otto Pfister - many German coaches and players work abroad and are viewed as representatives for their country. The 2013 German football ambassador is to be named at a ceremony on May 13.
German football ambassadors 2013
Many German footballers represent their country abroad. The German football ambassador initiative is to honor their involvement and has nominated 11 players for the audience award. You can choose your favorite at http://www.fussballbotschafter.de/voting.
Thomas Broich
Abroad: 2010 - present: Brisbane Roar (Australia). In 2011 and 2012 the former U-20 national team player won consecutive A-League championships. He was named the league's player of the season for 2011-12. His story was captured in the film "Tom meets Zizou - kein Sommermärchen" ("Tom meets Zizou - no summer fairytale").
Arne Friedrich
Abroad: 2012 - present: Chicago Fire (USA). Arne Friedrich played a lot of successful Bundesliga football before moving to Major League Soccer. In 2012, he helped the Fire earn a spot in the MLS playoffs. Off the field, Friedrich supports various aid projects in Africa, especially Rwanda.
Robert Huth
Abroad: 2001 - present. Chelsea 2001-2006, Middlesborough 2006 - 2009, currently Stoke City (all England). Huth was part of the Chelsea teams that won the English Premier League title in 2005 and 2006 and is a fixture on the Stoke backline. For more than a decade he has helped shape the image of German footballers in England.
Sami Khedira
Abroad: 2010 - present: Real Madrid (Spain). Sami Khedira has become a true leader since moving to Madrid and is respected at the national and international level. He was part of the campaign "Lace Up. Save Lives" which works to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Miroslav Klose
Abroad: 2011 - present: Lazio (Italy). Klose is a fixture in Lazio's starting 11. The winner of the Silver Laurel Leaf, Germany's highest sporting award, is known for his sense of fair play. Klose is involved in the organization Sport meets Charity which helps sick children and their families.
Kevin Kuranyi
Abroad: 2010 - present Dynamo Moscow. The Brazilian-born former member of Germany's national team played much of his youth football in his native country before joining VfB Stuttgart in 1997. In 2010 he was selected as the fans' choice as Dynamo Moscow's player of the year in 2010.
Per Mertesacker
Abroad: 2011 - present: Arsenal (England). Mertesacker played many seasons in the Bundesliga and is now an integral part of North London outfit. Through his own foundation, which supports the integration of disadvantaged children through sports.
Anja Mittag
Abroad: 2006 - 2007: QBIK, 2012 - present: LdB FC Malmo (both Sweden). Mittag was the top scorer in the Swedish women's league, the Damallsvenskan, and was voted player of the year in 2012. She is involved in World Vision and supports children in developing countries.
Lukas Podolski
Abroad: 2012 - present: Arsenal (England). Lukas Podolski has scored 44 goals in 108 appearances for the national team. He founded the Lukas Podolski Foundation for various aid projects.
Mesut Özil
Abroad: 2010 - present: Real Madrid (Spain). Mesut Özil is a key player at Real Madrid. Off the field, the German national team member with Turkish roots gives of his time to support the integration of people with migrant backgrounds into German society. In 2010 he won a Bambi award for his efforts.
Fabian Ernst
Abroad: 2009 - 2012: Besiktas, 2012 - currently: Kasimpasa SK (both Turkey).
Germany is one of the world's leading footballing nations and many of its players and coaches work abroad. While plying their trade internationally, they also serve as unofficial representatives of their country. The German Football Ambassador initiative honors the engagement of these coaches and players with annual awards. The football ambasssador for 2013 is to be chosen on May 13.