For 26 years, Norbert Elgert has been working for FC Schalke 04. In an interview with the professional portal “xing”, he talks about the different generations of players.

Norbert Elgert has been working for FC Schalke 04 for 26 years now. With a brief interruption as Frank Neubarth’s co-trainer with the professionals (July 2002 to March 2003), he works for the U19s of the Königsblauen.

Pretty much every former Schalke talent who made it in the professional ranks went through his school. Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sané, Julian Draxler, Benedikt Höwedes, Joel Matip, Thilo Kehrer and many, many more. In an interview with the online career portal Xing, Elgert talked about what it takes to become a professional and what can be passed on to the working world.

Talent is an important prerequisite, but also “a muscle that has to be trained intensively every day in order to grow”: “Great talents succeed in overcoming and mastering setbacks and difficulties. Footballing talent only puts you in the door, but only qualities like attitude, will, stamina, perseverance and willingness to put in effort over a long period of time get you through that door.” Elgert, he says, has never known anyone who – as he puts it – got to the top of the ladder of success with their hands in their pockets. “It’s a fact that both in competitive sport and in professional life, supposed high flyers with weak attitudes are often overtaken by average talents with maximum attitudes. “

There should be a subject at school that teaches how to solve problems pragmatically and successfully, overcome difficulties and emerge stronger.

Norbert Elgert

Of course he has seen many of them in his quarter of a century as youth coach of FC Schalke 04. He would even have thought that national keeper Neuer would have a professional career as an outfield player: “His proverbial stoic calm, his composure paired with great enthusiasm for the game was extremely striking.

What Elgert plans to do after football

In his time, he has also seen many generations of footballers, but also of people. Today’s young people are “in a good mood and totally fine”, but they are also no longer as resilient: “Many have less resilience and stamina. Football is society’s magnifying glass.” It is often made too easy for them. “Too much is taken away from them. There should be a subject at school that teaches how to solve problems pragmatically and successfully, how to overcome difficulties and come out stronger. Parents should love their children unconditionally, but it is irresponsible not to challenge them. “

By his current, but also his former protégés, Elgert is only called “coach”. He says this has come about over the years: “Every young coach should have the goal of developing from trainer to coach over the years.” After 26 years at Schalke, he also already has a clear plan of what he would like to do one day when he is no longer coaching the Knappenschmiede’s U19s. Elgert: “I will remain in football as a coach, mentor and coach developer. Maybe I’ll have more time to give lectures on leadership and motivation in the private sector again. “