Joachim Löw, the former coach of the German national football team, recently opened up about his unfulfilled desire for children during an emotional interview on Sky Sports. Speaking to moderator Riccardo Basile, Löw reflected candidly on the challenges he faced with his ex-wife Daniela, as the couple's marriage remained childless.
Throughout the interview, part of the series "Meine Geschichte - das Leben von ...", Löw, 65, discussed how he often thinks about what life could have been like with children. “Das habe ich mir nicht nur einmal vorgestellt, sondern das stelle ich mir natürlich häufiger vor. Absolut. Das wäre natürlich wunderschön gewesen,” he expressed, translating to: "I have imagined it more than once, and I naturally think about it more often. Absolutely. It would have been beautiful.”
Joachim and Daniela Löw, who have been married since 1986, were together for over 30 years before their separation was announced publicly in August 2016. Despite their divorce not being finalized, the couple remains on amicable terms, with Löw emphasizing the importance of their friendship even after their romantic relationship ended. He describes their split as a gradual process rather than one stemming from any single incident. “Es gab keinen Auslöser dafür,” he noted, underscoring the maturity with which they handled their situation.
During this introspective conversation, Löw acknowledged the personal aspect of why the couple could not have children. He disclosed, “Meine Frau konnte keine Kinder bekommen. Wir haben das natürlich auch immer mal wieder versucht, aber dann hat man sich damit auch ein Stück weit abgefunden,” which means, "My wife could not have children. We tried again and again, but then we accepted it to some extent." His honest sharing of this deeply private matter makes it clear how challenging this aspect of their lives was.
Nevertheless, Löw chose to focus on the positive aspects of their childless life. He shared how being free of parenting responsibilities allowed him to travel extensively and pursue his career without the constraints often faced by parents. "Es gab dann viele andere schöne Dinge im Leben,” Löw stated, translating to "There were many other beautiful things in life.” He reflected on how having children might have limited his opportunities internationally, saying, “Mit Kindern hätte ich vielleicht auch gar nicht überall in der Weltgeschichte rumreisen und in so vielen unterschiedlichen Ländern tätig sein können,” which is translated as "With children, I might not have been able to travel around the world and work in so many different countries at all."
This unique outlook poses intriguing questions about life's choices. Löw recognizes the advantages and sacrifices his situation brought, not only for him personally but also for his professional life. Despite the challenges he faced concerning family, he also remarked on the potential drawbacks having children could have posed to his coaching career, stating, "Vielleicht hätte es mir einige Vorteile genommen in meinem Berufsleben.”
With great depth, he concluded his emotional reflections: “Heute denke ich natürlich manchmal, es wäre schön gewesen, mit eigenen Kindern. Absolut,” which translates to, "Today I think sometimes, it would have been lovely to have had my own children. Absolutely.” Through this poignant statement, Löw encapsulates the bittersweet reality of unfulfilled desires intertwined with personal growth and life fulfillment.
Joachim Löw's story resonates not only with those familiar with his football legacy but also with anyone who has navigated the challenges and joys of life without children. Although it is clear he cherishes the professional path he chose, his heartfelt admissions reveal the complexity of human emotions tied to family aspirations and personal fulfillment.