
Jupp heynckes was simply a human being. Built close to the water, emotional, full of ruhrseligkeit. In one of the most overwhelming moments of this bundesliga anniversary season, the always so composed and analytical soccer coach gave free rein to his feelings and let out the tears.
First his voice faltered, then his eyes moistened, and several times the 68-year-old reached in front of his face to hide something he really had nothing to be ashamed of. Jupp heynckes cried.
The reason was clear. When, after the 4:3 (2:3) victory of his bayern over borussia monchengladbach, he told of the reunion the night before with the gladbach cup-winning team of 1973, heynckes knew one thing with certainty: a circle had been closed. After 1011 bundesliga games as a professional and coach, an era ended in his hometown.