Holebas: “Nobody wants to go to Germany any more”

Ex-1860 Munich player Jose Holebas has questioned the attractiveness of the Bundesliga. The Bundesliga could not keep up with the other European top leagues in both sporting and financial terms.

“The way I hear it, nobody wants to go to Germany anymore,” said the 35-year-old, who has been in the Premier League for FC Watford since summer 2015, to the sports buzzer. Although he could imagine a return to Germany, “but not for football at all”.

Holebas was active for TSV 1860 Munich from 2006 to 2010 and played 74 games in the 2nd Bundesliga during this time. Afterwards his way led via Olympiakos Piraeus and the AS Rome to Watford.

The left-back sees the reason for the unattractiveness of the Bundesliga in both the sporting and financial aspects. In both areas, the Bundesliga was lagging behind its European rivals and above all the Premier League.

“In the Premier League, every club has money,” said Holebas. “A clever player doesn’t even go to a top club to earn real money, as is perhaps the case in Germany or Spain.”

He also sees the English league as superior to the Bundesliga in terms of sport. “Tactically, it may not be the best league in the world,” said Holebas. “But the speed, physique and fitness are even more in demand than in other leagues. It’ll take 90 minutes, so you can’t switch off.” In Germany, on the other hand, there are only “four five good clubs, after that nothing comes anymore”.