Legendary German striker Jurgen Klinsmann says the English FA is an iconic organisation in world football which stands for honesty and credibility in the game.
“If there is one federation in the world that deserves more than any other one to host the next World Cup, it would be England.”
“The English FA is a very special federation because it stands for tradition, it stands for a lot of history, it stands for really living and breathing the game day in day out, it stands for being correct, being honest and trying to give it credibility.”
In an interview to mark the FA’s 150th anniversary the former Tottenham striker said he had many fond memories of playing in England.
“When you talk about football in England you talk about the moment and the atmosphere in the stadium, the way they sing their songs, the tension and also the excitement that grows within a game at an English stadium is something you rarely experience in other countries.”
“For me that was very, very special. When you walk on the field at White Harte Lane you sense the energy that comes from the people to the players.
“You can't go slow, you've got to give 100%, you've got to go full pace, you're just so pumped up because of the energy people give you and that is something very, very specific to English football.”
Klinsmann’s reputation as a diver made him an unpopular figure in English football when he first came to the Premier League in 1994. The German was all-to-aware of this reputation and after scoring on his debut he premiered his self-deprecating diving celebration. He soon became a hit and showed off his ‘Klinsmann dive’ 30 times in just 56 appearances for Tottenham.
Klinsmann may have a World Cup and European Championship winners medal but he says his fondest memory in football came after an FA Cup quarter final victory at Anfield Road.
“We walked off the field and the people at Anfield gave us a standing ovation - that was a very special moment because here's famous Liverpool standing up there and giving a standing ovation to the away team and saying 'you were the better team today'.
"This wasn't a trophy but it was something I will never forget.”
The flamboyant German says his earliest memories of playing in front of his dad and the motivation that gave him was the reason behind his successful playing career.
“My earliest football memory was when I was a little boy probably 9 or 10 years old and played locally and obviously as a striker scoring a lot of goals.
“But it was special because my dad was always standing behind the goal to watch my games. Coming out of a baker family he had to work 14-16 hours a day and then being there on a weekend day and being probably very, very tired but standing there behind the goal watching the games - that meant a lot to me.”
Since retiring from playing Klinsmann has managed the German national team - leading them to the World Cup semi-finals in 2006. He then had a short spell at Bayern Munich, lasting less than a season and is now in charge of the United States national team.