by Mesut Özil
‘This summer,’ Eckes continues, ‘a man with German and Turkish roots has shown us how nimble and straightforward integration can be. World Cup star: Mesut Özil. The Turkish national side wanted him too. We really wanted him. But for Mesut Özil it was always clear. He grew up in Germany, he went to school here. His friends live here. So he plays for Germany. And yet all of us – Germans and Turks – are proud of him. When Mesut Özil led the German team into the World Cup semi-final, German pubs and Turkish tea houses were cheering him on. Both Germans and Turks think it’s great that he immediately became a regular at Real Madrid amongst the best in the world. And the few on either side who are still confused, and want to claim Mesut Özil for themselves alone, are pretty much out on their own. They’re consistently put in the shade by the sheer joy felt by the majority. For once one of the major tabloids was right when it wrote, ‘‘We need lots more Özils.’’ Until that day comes let’s be happy that we have the one Özil!’
I think she’s said my name. Or at least I imagine that she has said ‘Mesut Özil’. I glance at Mutlu, who gives me a smile and a nod. While I take another couple of swigs of water they play a clip. It declares me a model of successful integration in Germany. And the voice says, ‘No matter where you come from – everyone’s proud of this captivating team. Mesut Özil, the exceptional sportsman. His uninhibited embracing of his Turkish roots and the German football shirt is an example to us all.’
Anybody watching on TV how I get up a few seconds later, walk towards the stage and button up my jacket, might think I’m calmness personified. I have to walk up six steps to stand beside Nazan Eckes. Six little steps, each one of which is a mini-conquest. The Özil who comes out of the players’ tunnel is like a brave lion ready to chase the ball. The Özil who climbs up on this stage is no better than a timid kitten.
Thankfully Nazan, with her natural manner, immediately puts me at ease. She grabs my left arm to give me support and let me know that she’s with me. Everything is fine. After she’s given me the Bambi she blows me another kiss.
The people in the room get to their feet and give me a standing ovation. They applaud. All of a sudden the sound is no longer muffled; I’m hearing it as it really is. I see the happiness in people’s faces. The smiles of weightlifter and Olympic gold medallist Matthias Steiner, for example. It feels similar to scoring a goal and hearing the fans cheer in the stadium.
‘First of all I’d like to thank you for this special honour,’ I hear myself say. The words are tumbling out of my mouth as if by themselves. ‘I’m very happy. Integration means becoming part of the whole. Participating without losing your own identity. Integration means mutual respect – this is particularly important. Integration leads to something new, a more colourful Federal Republic of Germany. Danke schön. Teşekkürler. Gracias. Thank you.’
My thank-you speech lasted 32 seconds. I stalled very briefly once, but I don’t think anybody noticed. Then I’d done it. It’s a crazy feeling getting off the stage with this prize. I’m proud of it, even though I should say that Sami Khedira deserved the Bambi just as much as me. His mother is German and his father Tunisian. They met in Hammamet, northern Tunisia. But, like me, Sami was born in Germany and grew up in a town called Fellbach-Oeffingen, somewhere in Baden-Württemberg. He is no less integrated than me.
I didn’t speak for long or say much at the Bambis. But I thought about my words very carefully. I didn’t just recite some nice-sounding phrases – I chose words I believed in, and still do.
Integration is a good thing. Integration is important. I wish that integration could always be like our World Cup semi-final in 2014, when we beat Brazil 7–1. We played in perfect harmony. Each pass worked. Our game wasn’t impeded by egoism, but inspired by togetherness. That’s how it needs to work in society too, no matter where your fellow-citizens come from. Together it always works.
Acknowledgements
I don’t think that grand words are always needed to express thanks. I know that I wouldn’t have got anywhere without the help, trust and support of many people. If I had the choice and it were possible, I’d love to have a game with these 22 people in ‘my’ Monkey Cage. In the place where it all began. Where I fell in love with football in a fun, carefree way. On the – for me – most beautiful football pitch in the world. Even though it was just a mix of cinder and gravel, fenced in by metal bars. On this bumpy surface, 50 or 60 paces long, and perhaps 30 wide. Where the ball never went out, but just bounced back. Where we were afraid of falling in winter because you’d graze your hands on the frozen ground. Where I – and this is no exaggeration – scored at least 3,000 goals in the 12 years I played football on this pitch in Olgastrasse in Gelsenkirchen.
I don’t care who’s on what team. It’s not important who plays in which position. Who wins is beside the point. It would be a very special friendly match. With 22 other people who are very, very important to me. Thank you for everything! I’m incredibly grateful.
Yours, Mesut.
Photographic Acknowledgements
The author and publisher would like to thank the following for permission to reproduce photographs:
Getty Images/Javier Soriano, Fabian Marun, Adidas, Getty Images/Boris Streubel, ullsteinbild/TopFoto, Getty Images/Robert Michael, Getty Images/Martin Rose, Getty Images/AFP, Getty Images/Stuart McFarlane, picture-alliance/Sven Simon, Getty Images, dpa, Horst. A. Friedrichs London, Getty Images/Stuart Franklin, Getty Images/Lars Baron, Getty Images/John MacDougall, Getty Images/David R. Anchuelo, Getty Images/Steve Haag, Getty Images/Pool, Getty Images/Dominique Faget, Getty Images/Cesar Manso, Getty Images/Angel Martinez, Getty Images/Josep Lago, Getty Images/Lluis Gene, Getty Images/Pierre Philippe Marcou, Getty Images/David Price, Julian Baumann, Getty Images/Patrik Stollarz, Getty Images/Lars Baron/FIFA, Dennis Brosda, ©Colorsport/Andrew Cowie, Chadwick/ANL/REX/Shutterstock, Marc Atkins/Offside, Chadwick/ANL/REX/Shutterstock, Xinhua / Alamy Stock Photo, REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo, Matthew Ashton/AMA/Corbis via Getty Images, Julian Finney/Getty Images, Xinhua/Alamy Stock Photo, Marc Atkins/Offside, James Marsh/BPI/REX/Shutterstock, Adam Davy/PA Archive/PA Images, BPI/REX/Shutterstock, Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images, JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Other photographs are from private collections.
Every reasonable effort has been made to trace the copyright holders, but if there are any errors or omissions, Hodder & Stoughton will be pleased to insert the appropriate acknowledgement in any subsequent printings or editions.
