Of course, success is a relative term. It can be something completely different from winning the German championship eight times or making millions.

I've never really seen myself in the role of the victim.

I'm not the type who spends his free time in training camp playing with his Playstation or playing cards on trips. The other players thought it was odd: There he is, reading again.

I am firmly convinced that you shouldn't necessarily emphasize hedonism, especially at the beginning of a career, but should instead focus entirely on performance.

After the 2006 World Cup, I knew that you don't always need success, success, success on the pitch.

After a decade in a club it's quite normal and necessary that you seek and take a new challenge.

I have always seen myself as an athlete. Of course, I made the mistake of unintentionally opening the door to my private life by just a crack. I wouldn't do the same thing again. It has to be accepted that my private life is private, and if that isn't the case, I have to do something about it.