“Then you have the donkey card”: Christoph Daum about his battle against cancer

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Former German coach Christoph Daum (69, ex-Leverkusen, among others) has been battling lung cancer since 2022. He offered ‘Bild’ intimate insights into his condition, revealing: Despite his illness, there were attempts to get him back into coaching.

In the interview Daum talks about…

Last week, Daum was in his 22nd round of chemotherapy since his illness. Considering the circumstances, he is currently doing well. Because: The treatment works. “The therapies have a positive effect, the cancer cells shrink slightly. There are also supportive measures such as meditation and breathing exercises. Professor Jürgen Wolf, head of oncology at the university clinic, takes loving care of me.”

But Daum makes it clear: he is not yet cured. “Unfortunately, cancer is very treacherous; the metastases can suddenly explode somewhere else in the body. Then you have the donkey card.”

At least his hair has recently grown back – a big relief for Daum. “Luckily they are back. For me, the hairless phase was the constant reminder when I looked in the mirror: you have cancer.”

“The doctors had given me permission to visit my son in the US. Dandelion! I got pneumonia and almost fell into a coma. My wife Angelica said afterwards: I shouted at you, you didn’t react at all.”

… Julian Nagelsmann, the new DFB coach

For Daum, Nagelsmann is currently the best German coach. “Julian has a wonderful approach.” What sets him apart is his ability to read games and influence them from the outside. The German European Championship duo Rudi Völler/Julian Nagelsmann thinks Daum is spot on: “Julian has a game plan, Rudi has a people plan. He just has a feeling for players.”

Daum’s last position was as national coach of Romania in 2017. Since then, the master coach from Stuttgart from 1992 has retired from the company. Despite his illness, efforts were made to retrieve him. “Since the illness I have also had offers. From Bruges as a sports director or as a national coach in a Balkan country. Because of the chemo I cannot be 100 percent available. And if it says Daum, it must have Daum in it.” (sbe)

Source : Blick