Bruno Labbadia likes to jog

By: Ulf | December 12th, 2008

In an interview published on the Bundesliga web-site Werkself manager Bruno Labbadia noted his commitment to winning, via an attractive attacking style as well as an out-of-blue question about jogging.

When asked of evaluating team performance he added:

“The team has given a lot of pleasure, has played with a lot of enthusiasm and has given fans a lift with the attractive football they’ve played.”

Given his success as a striker himself he was asked if it influences his coaching philosophy?

“What really matters is the way I think, the way I want to see football played. I learned a lot of good things from many coaches. But there were a lot of things I saw during my time as a player that I didn’t like, where I want to do things differently. What really drives me is what’s inside me, and the hope that a team will at some time turn that into reality”

When asked if he is satisfied with the clubs performance he responded:

“Yes, of course… as a new boy especially, you’re bound to be satisfied if you find yourself topping the table a couple of times. Remember that we have a very, very young team. But I’m never satisfied, because I can feel the drive in me for us to improve constantly and for us to sustain that, to show we can do it over time.”

As you were known for your fighting spirit, how do you instill the same approach into your team?

“That isn’t hard, because I simply love football. I’m very grateful to football. It’s enabled me to lead a completely different sort of life and I love the game. I try to live that every day and I think the team accepts that.”

When asked about his running habit of running an hour each morning and how important it is to him he said:

“Yes, it is very important to help me think. I reflect on a lot of things while I run. Not just about football, but on other things, too. And it’s also part of my self-esteem to keep my body reasonably fit. Finally, I need to maintain that awareness of my own body to feel right.”

Finally with regards to what will make him successful coach he answered:

“I think good and intensive work always stands out – at least that’s what I try to convey to my team – as long as you are determined and persistent.”