New Germany coach Jurgen Klopp says his team can help ensure “national pride is not entrusted to the wrong people” after a recent far-right election victory.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won 43.8% of the vote in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, falling just short of securing an absolute majority in the regional parliament.
The anti-immigration party also expects strong results in elections on Sunday in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Speaking at a news conference to announce his first squad, Klopp stressed he is not a political “expert” but added: “We had an election where some people may have thought it was OK, while others were saying, ‘my God, what is happening here?’
“From my perspective as a sportsman, I can say that I would very much like to reclaim the flag for myself, for all of us.
“I want it so that when someone waves it, no one thinks: ‘What is wrong with you?’ Instead, I want people to understand: You are happy and realise how lucky you were to be born, grow up, or move to this wonderful country.”
No far-right party has controlled a German state since World War Two, when the ruling Nazi party carried out the Holocaust.
“I do not want to entrust national pride to the wrong people,” said Klopp, who prefers the term “positive patriotism” to “national pride”, which he fears can be misunderstood.
The former Liverpool boss added: “I can be proud to be German while also being open-minded and diverse, and kind and friendly.”
Klopp also said it was more important that the country had enough doctors and caregivers but said football can “foster a sense of community, so that people can truly feel the power of sport”.
