Sami Khedira has done it all as a footballer. Winning the 2014 World Cup title for Germany was the highlight of his career. After his retirement from the sport in May this year, he now devotes himself more to his role as ambassador of Porsche’s youth development programme “Turbo for Talents”.
“Of course I miss football, but I’m looking forward to what the future holds. Life offers so much.” Sami Khedira, 34, has lived the dream. As a youngster, he yearned to be a professional footballer, play in the German Bundesliga and win major tournaments as a national player. All of these dreams came true: from winning the German championship with his home team VfB Stuttgart to the world cup title in Brazil. “I’m very lucky that I was able to have these wonderful experiences and I’m grateful to everyone who made this possible.”
“You have to be passionate about what you do. If you don’t feel it and love it, then stop and do something else." Sami Khedira
As an ambassador for “Turbo for Talents”, he aims to give something back to his sport and thus assist in paving the way for as many children and young people as possible to follow in his footsteps. “It wasn’t easy for me to become a professional either,” he says, “but I got the chance to train in great clubs with professional coaches.” Not many get such opportunities. He wants to help them find their role in life through sport. What does it take? “First the talent, then the right attitude, and most importantly, respect.” He says, and shares this advice with young athletes: “You have to be passionate about what you do. If you don’t feel it and love it, then stop and do something else. But if you’re certain of what you want to do, then work hard and regard every day as a chance to become a better athlete and a better person.”
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Khedira was evidently impressed by the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team during his visit to the Berlin E-Prix. In terms of professionalism and mental fortitude, he says he noticed obvious parallels to football. Values such as respect, teamwork, passion and team spirit are as important prerequisites for success on the racetrack as they are in Porsche’s youth development programme. Turning fast laps on the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit as a passenger in the Porsche Taycan Turbo S was a life-changing experience for him. “Initially I was really nervous, but then I enjoyed it more and more. It was like a rollercoaster ride,” he says. “It’s unbelievable how fast electric cars are and how professionals handle them. I’m very grateful to have had this experience.”
Turbo for Talents – Porsche’s youth development programme
Under the motto “Turbo for Talents”, Porsche is committed to supporting young talent in various sports throughout Germany. In football, partnerships exist with RB Leipzig, Stuttgarter Kickers, SG Sonnenhof Großaspach and Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Erzgebirge Aue. In ice hockey, Porsche sponsors young talent for the Bietigheim-Bissingen Steelers. In basketball, Porsche is the named sponsor of the Ludwigsburg Porsche Basketball Academy (BBA) – the squad school of the MHP Riesen. The commitment is not only about supporting high-quality training in sport, but also about the social and personal development of the children and young people involved. One of the programme’s best known supporters is football world champion Sami Khedira. Find out more about Porsche's wide-ranging youth sponsorship programme at: www.turbofuertalente.de.
Info
The Porsche Formula E podcast is published in English and can be downloaded from the Porsche Newsroom. “Inside E” is also available on other platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.
