Dynamic Figure, Religious Savior, Swift DFB Coach: Thum Never Offered Boredom
Christoph Daum, famously known for his outspokenness and motivational skills, was well-known as a gamut of quotes and loudspeakers. He never shied away from obstacles, but unfortunately, he's lost his latest battle. The Bundesliga is set to lose one of its most vibrant characters.
Heartbreaking news like this still catches one off guard, even when one has been bracing for it for a while. Daum, an iconic figure in the Bundesliga, lost his fight against cancer this past Saturday. At the tender age of 70, the combative and divisive yet adored figure, fell to the cold hands of cancer "accompanied by his family" as reported by the press. In recent months, Daum, born in Zwickau on October 24, 1953, and who passed away in Cologne, had seen a significant decline in his health. Sleepless nights were common for him in his final days, as chemotherapy drained his seemingly boundless energy.
Christoph Daum had been battling lung cancer since the fall of 2022. He retreated from public life for a while but eventually returned with a bang, eager to share his love for the game with the audience he cherished so much. He graced television interviews, talk shows, and podcasts with his presence, radiating his typical optimistic attitude and hope throughout. "Cancer picked the wrong body," he would often say, never complaining about his situation but rather emphasizing the importance of fighting back. Bad days occurred, but just like the sun rising after a storm, Daum would persevere.
"I am one of a kind, there are hardly any better ones"
The always optimistic and determined fight against cancer mirrored his controversial and polarizing life in the footballing world. Christoph Daum was known as "Cassius" within the industry. And rightfully so: "I know; I'm unique; I'm one of a kind. There are others who are good, but I am one of the best. I never question myself." When he wasn't praised, he praised himself. Self-confidence was his limitless power, he once said, and "If they call you a bigmouth, you’ve made it." Daum lived by this creed.
Daum's arrival as head coach of 1. FC Cologne in 1986 was like a whirlwind. Under his leadership, the club recorded more victories than losses. He coined slogans for the ages, such as this one: "Today's team had a blood type. The blood type was called victory." Fired from his position in Cologne, VfB Stuttgart swiftly hired him in November 1990. After a short time, they won the championship. It was his only win in the Bundesliga, but he followed it up with four more titles in Turkey and Austria.
A life as exhilarating as a Hollywood film
His career was a riveting Hollywood film. Full of ups and downs, drama and heartbreak, but never forgetting the triumphs that had shaped this enigmatic figure, who was equally talented as a trainer and often ahead of his time. One infamous moment saw a young and relatively unknown Daum of 1. FC Cologne suddenly challenge the powerful FC Bayern and its manager Uli Hoeneß – almost bringing down the Bundesliga dominant.
In the 1988/89 season, one of the most infamous conversations in the history of ZDF's "Aktuellen Sportstudio" took place. The heated debate between Daum and Udo Lattek, accompanied by Hoeneß and Jupp Heynckes, remains etched in footballing history. For weeks, Daum had launched verbal attacks towards Munich, specifically at Heynckes. He would say things like, "Heynckes could also do advertising for sleeping pills," or, "Every weather report is more informative than a conversation with Heynckes." When he also said, "The Munich journalists asked me about the difference between Heynckes and great trainers," Bayern manager Uli Hoeneß was truly irked: "Daum clearly missed the semester on rhetorics." Even Heynckes, after the initial shock, fought back: "Daum is a cheap Lattek imitation. He has too much docklands and Kreuzberg charm. He should have found the button to enable self-destruct, he needs medication for altitude sickness."
Unafraid of the greats
He never backed down from confronting big names. Daum said what he thought, and he didn't always get a positive response. In 1988, during the European Football Championship, he criticized iconic coach Franz Beckenbauer for selecting the wrong players. The Kaiser dismissed Daum's comments with a reply that would later be used against him: "What difference does it make to the moon if a dog barks at it?" Daum retorted with his own barb: "One should ask if it's waxing or waning moon." Their friendship never truly developed, but they managed to bury the hatchet with a shared drink at the time.
In his later years, Daum never backed down from a fight. The higher he achieved, however, the harder he tumbled. Following his title victory with VfB, he effortlessly misplaced Champions League qualification with an ill-advised substitution. The infamous cocaine scandal in 2000 further jeopardized his supposedly rock-solid position as the prospective national coach. This marked the onset of Daum's precipitous descent, ultimately leading him to depart the country under cover. Post the catastrophic Euro in Belgium and the Netherlands, Ribbeck had to resign, prompting the DFB to establish a committee spearheaded by Rummenigge. They successfully coaxed Daum to vacate Leverkusen at the end of the season to assume the national team role. Rudi Völler was appointed temporary national coach as part of the arrangement. On the surface, everything seemed well-orchestrated, but matters soon became tangled. Daum tripped over his own bravery, stumbling upon the hair test designed to vindicate him.
nonetheless, Daum always managed to pick himself back up, a persistent theme in his life. He adopted the maxim, "You may fall. The frequency of your falls is inconsequential. Just make sure you always get back up." Cancer ultimately served as his only impediment. The disease also transformed his public image. Previously, his divisive personality garnered either admiration or scorn based on his polarizing character. However, his authentic and unwavering embrace of life during his cancer battle won him numerous supporters. Even his lifelong rival Hoeneß extended an olive branch. Regardless of how one recalls Daum - as an influential orator, a social agitator, a motivational figure, a messiah-like figure, a nearly-national coach, or an eternal runner-up with Leverkusen - he ineffably managed to maintain interest.
Despite his battle with lung cancer, Christoph Daum continued to share his love for soccer, appearing on television interviews and talk shows. His optimistic attitude never wavered, as he often said, "Cancer picked the wrong body."
Daum's impact on German soccer was not limited to the field. His controversial and polarizing persona made him a figure of fascination, much like a character in a Hollywood film.
