Footballers appear to have overcome a recession and are on their way to become a popular Made in Germany export again, just as Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW cars.
The reported provisional agreement of Lukas Podolski to join Arsenal – which, if true, still requires a deal between his club Cologne and the Premier League heavyweights – was the latest sign that German football is held in high esteem again abroad.
Just two years ago the World Cup squad of coach Joachim Loew consisted entirely of Bundesliga players after Germany had not always made an impression on the big stage over the past decade.
But Germany in general and its youth sector training in particular became the envy of other nations at the 2010 tournament in South Africa where a young team showed long forgotten skill and class en route to a third-place finish.
Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid swiftly picked up playmaker Mesut Oezil and Sami Khedira that summer. Central defender Per Mertesacker joined Arsenal in 2011 and even veteran forward Miroslav Klose is now outside Germany and a hit at Lazio.
Podolski has been the target of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for a while, captain Philipp Lahm was once targeted by European champions Barcelona and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer could have also left Schalke for Manchester United instead of Bayern Munich.
“It shows our quality when our players are sought again by the big clubs abroad,” said Loew.
The coach said that Germany also benefits from these transfers because the players improve in the big leagues and clubs abroad.
“Sami Khedira, Mesut Oezil, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose profit from these transfers, it raises their self-esteem. The foreign countries improve their personality and sporting development,” Loew said.
A title at Euro 2012 in summer would probably only add to the trend.
Germany are top favourites along with holders Spain, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is already reportedly willing to dish out million for teenage sensation Mario Goetze from Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund.
International success for German teams in the past has often come with stars who played their club football outside the country.
Captain Lothar Matthaeus, Juergen Klinsmann and Andreas Brehme formed a formidable trio at Inter Milan while Thomas Berthold and Rudi Voeller were under contract at Roma when the team last won the World Cup in 1990.
That success generated further interest and a record eight Germans played abroad from the 23 picked for Euro 1992.
But not every player has made it outside Germany. Defender Jerome Boateng managed no breakthrough at Manchester City and returned to Germany in summer at Munich.
Many also had reservations whether Klose could really hit it off at Lazio and it is only now that Loew sees Podolski fit to leave the cosy home atmosphere of Cologne.
The 95-times capped forward Podolski, who is enjoying his best league season with 15 goals so far, is also finally ready to take the plunge into the unknown.
“I speak German, Polish, English and Koelsch (the local Cologne dialect), I will be OK anywhere. You don’t play football because of a language but because there is a ball,” he said.
