ESPN-Reporter Jim Proudfoot im Interview

The voice of Bundesliga

Text: Titus Chalk  Bild: Imago

Jim Proudfoot kommentiert in England für den Sender ESPN die Bundesliga. Wir sprachen mit ihm über den Unterschied zu anderen Ligen und darüber, wie er in seiner Kommentatoren-Butze in Übersee die Stimmung einfängt.

Wie sagt man »Tooooooooorrrrr!« auf Englisch? Well one man who might know is Jim Proudfoot, the commentator who voices Bundelisga matches on ESPN, the network that broadcasts German football back in England. He’s been commentating on German games on and off for several years, but this has been his first full season as the voice of the Bundesliga: »I’ve already done 20 games this season and I’m really enjoying it,« he says. »I’ve seen some pretty ordinary games, but that’s the case with any league. You get 0-0 draws and dull games wherever you go – and you don’t get many dull games in the Bundesliga.« Here’s his take on the German game.

 

What do you enjoy most about the Bundesiliga?

I came in to it with the preconception that one of the reasons the league was so good was because there weren’t many good defenders in it, and inevitably games would be very open. And I would say there is a much more attacking ethos in Germany than many other leagues, possibly any other league. When you look at the goal-scoring records of the better players in Germany I think they stand up to comparison with players in other leagues. It can be a high-scoring league, so it’s great to commentate on.  
The other thing is, though I can’t pretend that I’m absolutely au fait with every nuance of every club, is that because of the history of the clubs, there’s plenty to get your teeth into – the rivalries, the different cultures in different German cities. The clashes are great.  

How much do you look into the history and identity of a foreign league before you begin commentating on it?

I do so many games, that it’s not always possible. Also, you’re commentating for a quite a specialised audience. Firstly, those that like a bet and they probably don’t care too much. Secondly, die-hard German fans, ex-pats, or people that have worked in or visited Germany and follow a team – and they will have a much more specialised knowledge of their club than I will. You don’t want to miss anything, and you want to be able to bring the background in and cover all the salient points to convey the story, but I’m realistic enough to know I have to cover 18 clubs in Germany, then a similar number in Italy and Holland – I can’t realistically have that knowledge. It’s a challenge to get the balance right.  

But you can still develop an affinity for the country’s football?

Oh absolutely! I’ve always found that the best way to cover a foreign league is to pick a team to follow then you have an interest in it.  

So who have you been following in the Bundesliga?

Well! That’s the question, isn’t it! I’ve actually got two teams, which is the one thing you’re not supposed to do. But the two teams I like are Hamburg and Bremen. I’ve not been to Hamburg but I have been to Bremen and loved it. It was such a fantastic atmosphere. Arsenal were there in the UEFA club a few years ago and it was a great night. Bremen are a great side to watch.  
When I’m commentating on their title rivals I’m secretly hoping they’ll lose and when I’m commentating on either of them I‘m hoping they’ll win, though I try very hard not to be biased.  

Although you commentate from the studio, do you get a sense of how good the atmosphere is at German games?

We watch about 15 minutes of build up before we actually start broadcasting, so we can sit and take it in and you get a good feeling for the pre-match atmosphere. Having covered the French league for example, I can safely say there’s no comparison.    
I have been to eight or nine of the German grounds over the years. I went to Dortmund for the World Cup semi-final between Germany and Italy, which was mind-blowing. I can’t remember an atmosphere that compared to that. With 80,000 in the Westfalenstadion, it was an extraordinary night.  

How important do you think the 2006 World Cup was in changing German football?

The World Cup changed a lot and even the average Bundesliga crowds went up. Plus, I think that the German national team has come through its sticky spell now. As an England supporter you have to be realistic enough to know that that night in Munich when everything we hit went in was against the worst the German team ever to wear the shirt. It was a bit like us saying: »Ok, we’ll get you back for Wembley and then you can start becoming a proper footballing country again.« And now, I really hope England don’t play Germany at the next World Club, because when you look at the quality of the young players coming through, it’s impressive. The likes of Philipp Lahm and Per Mertersacker are the experienced players, and they’re only in their mid-twenties. They’ve probably got 130 caps between them. And then you get the Özils, the Marins, the youngsters who are coming through and they’re very good.  
I think the only problem Germany will have bizarrely, is not having a goalscorer. They’ve got guys who can bang them in week in, week out, but I’m not sure there’s a genuinely world class goalscorer in the side.  

Can you assure German fans that the Bundesliga is safe in your hands? 

That’s probably not for me to say, but I’d like to think it’s in safe hands. ESPN do a good job on the European coverage and they try very hard to widen the audience and I’m proud to part of that. I’d like to think that any German football fans who are coming to the UK for business or on holiday and need their fix of the Bundesliga could tune in and be pleasantly surprised.    

Hier geht es zur Website von Proudfoots Arbeitgeber.