Alfred Reindl and his very special view of the Champions League final
Created: 05/27/2022, 09:30 am
By: Paul Hopp
Agile as ever: Ball artist Alfred Reindl, now 57, training in his basement, which was specially built for this purpose.
© private
Alfred Reindl is watching the Champions League final this Saturday very closely.
The career of the ball magician from Oberhausen began 35 years ago in the European Cup.
Oberhausen – Alfred Reindl (57) has not yet come out as a fervent supporter of Real Madrid or Liverpool FC.
But the football artist from Oberhausen is still watching closely when the two clubs duel in the final of the Champions League in Paris this Saturday.
Almost exactly 35 years ago to the day, Reindl himself was part of a final in the most prestigious cup competition in the world.
On May 27, 1987 he performed at the national championship final between FC Bayern Munich and FC Porto in Vienna's Prater Stadium.
Even though the evening ended tragically for Bayern, with a surprising 2-1 defeat, for Reindl it was the beginning of a career that took him to many parts of the world and is still ongoing.
He wonders about it himself: "It's crazy."
Appearance on May 27, 1987 marked the start of his career
Years ago, the Oberhausen resident said in relation to his work, which for him is both a profession and a passion: "What is still to come is an encore." However, there is no end in sight, rather - after Corona - it is "starting again now". , as the ball magician announces in a good mood.
In July, Reindl is in action at a sports gala in Dresden.
He is announced there as "The world's most famous soccer acrobat".
And in September he will show his self-designed show at the "Gala der Weltmeister" in Höchstädt on the Danube.
Reindl is happy about the commitment, because it also shows him that he is still in demand as a brand, despite all the competition that now exists.
To be able to perform at galas and sporting events and to be invited "is an incredible honor for me".
At the same time, it is also his job that the father of three makes a living from.
In this context, the corona pandemic was and is a real challenge for Reindl.
37 performances that he should have given have been canceled or postponed.
Nevertheless, he went through with his training, completed almost 700 units with no prospect of events.
The inner fire was always there: "I enjoyed training just as much as if I had practiced for performances," he emphasizes.
Alfred Reindl as an artist at five world championships
Last year, the man from Oberhausen only made one appearance.
He drove 650 kilometers by car to the “Ostsee-Sportspiele” in Cottbus.
Reindl is still noticing a certain degree of uncertainty among organizers.
Only a few dare larger events in halls, safe locations such as open spaces and stadiums are sought after.
The ball acrobat understands, because he has experienced first-hand that "Corona is not to be trifled with".
Although he had been vaccinated three times, the virus caught him in March.
As far as the immediate illness was concerned, "I got through it well," reports Reindl.
However, the joints that are already under a lot of strain due to his decades of sporting activities still hurt: the knees and the hips.
Alfred Reindl: Corona "is not to be trifled with"
Doing a complete freestyle "is still very painful," says Reindl.
But he, whose knees have already been arthroscopied nine times, is confident: "I'm a fighter.
I made it every time.” But it is also clear to the man from Oberhausen: “Corona is not a normal flu.”
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Ball acrobats among themselves: Alfred Reindl and Diego Maradona met in the 1989 UEFA Cup final in Stuttgart.
© Imago Images/Baumann
The Champions League final on Saturday brings back special memories for Reindl.
The appearance in Vienna at the time was the first of several at European Cup finals.
Unforgettable was the encounter with Diego Maradona on May 17, 1989 in the second leg of the UEFA Cup final in Stuttgart.
The world star, then in the service of SSC Naples, came out of the catacombs to warm up - and saw Reindl performing.
Maradona joined them and both juggled the ball together. Reindl also appeared at five world championships and six European championships.
The highlight for him was the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
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At that time "I was lucky enough to be able to perform on the field".
He could practically do whatever he wanted, he recalls.
“Run from goal to goal with the ball on your head – anything was possible.” Nowadays the program takes place on show stages and is timed to the second.
The issue of "safety" has also grown over the years.
According to Reindl, the whole thing no longer takes place for the fans, but primarily for sponsors and VIPs.
He makes no secret of the fact that he mourns the old days a little.
Nonetheless, Reindl makes it clear: "The trend is just going that way, that's just the way things are going.
I don't want to be hypocritical now.
Either you play the game or you're gone."
Alfred Reindl is still there – he may also be at the World Cup in Qatar.
There are requests for three appearances, reports the Oberhausener.