Though he posed for pictures with anyone who asked, he requested that no photos be taken of him in the newspaper. He also said he didn’t want the story to be about him, turning down an interview.
“Just keep it low. Keep it low key,” said Klinsmann, who was on Germany’s 1990 FIFA World Cup championship team and has also had great success as a coach and manager.
He seems to always keep it low, Klinsmann, a very unassuming guy. Even what he wore wreaked of ordinary — a gray sweat-jacket, jeans and running shoes.
He tried to control the media on this day, but he couldn’t control the buzz about him surrounding the track at Costa Mesa High. Klinsmann appeared to ignore that stuff. He was too busy watching the game and his son, Jonathan, play with his friends. This might be the last week he’ll get to do that here, since he is moving to Germany to start work with soccer club Bayern Munich in July.
For now, he’s teaching and coaching kids, encouraging them.
His team trailed, 2-0, but just before the half his boys scored two quick goals — one by Cesar and the other from the foot of Jonathan — and Klinsmann calmly told his players, “We’re back in this game.”
The Newport Heights boys, fifth- and sixth-graders of the Silver Division, went on to lose, 4-2, but they are winning in every sense of the word from their experience with Klinsmann.
“He’s kind,” Hernandez said of his coach. “He doesn’t get mad really fast. He’s patient. He doesn’t always want to win. He doesn’t care as long as we have fun. I’ve learned a lot from him.”
In addition to coaching the kids, Klinsmann has also led a soccer craze at Newport Heights, principal Kurt Suhr said.
