That’s why she was mad at Oliver Kahn for years

“I took it so personally”

That’s why Thomalla was angry with Kahn for years

Sophia Thomalla is a successful presenter. Now she remembers a tragic moment from her childhood – which has to do with Oliver Kahn.

Sophia Thomalla is in front of the camera as a presenter. Many TV viewers know her from the RTL+ format “Are You the One?”. But the 35-year-old is also passionate about sports. Simone Thomalla’s daughter is dating the best German tennis player, Alexander Zverev, and her foster father was Rudi Assauer. The manager of Schalke 04 for many years (1993 to 2006) was in a relationship with Simone Thomalla from 2000 to 2009.

Sophia Thomalla now remembered “one of the most tragic moments” from her childhood and explained to “Spiegel” why she was angry with former Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn for years. The origin was one of the most painful episodes in the Schalke club’s history: the “Master of Hearts”.

It was May 19, 2001 when the Parkstadion shook. After a 5-3 win against Unterhaching, players, fans and those in charge believed for a few minutes that Schalke 04 were German champions. The joy knew no bounds, the place was stormed, tears of euphoria flowed. But FC Bayern’s game in Hamburg against HSV was not over yet. The Munich team managed to equalize in stoppage time – and FC Bayern were able to call themselves German champions.

Kahn then tore the corner flag out of the ground. A moment that stuck with Thomalla – who was only happy with Schalke. She now explained: “I took it so personally.” And further: “The world has collapsed for us, and the man has already become champion so many times.”

She met Kahn for the first time when she was 18 and couldn’t look him in the eye at first. Her image from back then would not have matched the person who stood in front of her in a “totally friendly” way.