Chef Scores with Germany's National Soccer Team
MIAMI (CBS4) - With three World Cups under the collective belts, the German national football team is one of the most successful soccer clubs in the world.
Many of the team's star players are treated like rocks stars on the road.
Wednesday the team celebrated after a win a 4-2 win over Equador at a friendly match at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
But the team is more than just the players, coaches and trainers. When they're on the road they've got to eat.
Enter Holger Stromberg, a Michelin starred chef from Germany. Aside from being a local celebrity in his native country, Holger travels 100 days a year with the German team as head chef. He generally arrives three days before them and it's his job to make sure the players get the nutrition they need to keep them on top of their game.
"This is what you send to all the chefs in all the countries that you go to," asked CBS4's Lisa Petrillo as she looked over a 10 page meal brochure which outlined the team's nutritional requirements for the length of their stay.
"Yes," said Holger. "This our "Extra Folder". It has all the information about the team, food, beverage and what we need is in here. I know what the players like to do when they come inside the room. I do the seating, all the cutlery everything must on German time. Strict."
And at the St. Regis where the team is staying on the menu the items on the menu for the team vary from fresh salads, proteins, carbs to even the good old American burger.
"Tonight is party food because they won," said Holger. "When they win they get extra something. When they lose, they have veggies . They're young, they like pizza. They like winning food."
In countries like Ukraine and Africa, Holger said he sometimes has a difficult time getting the nutritious food he needs.
"I solve the problem. That's my job" he said.
Unlike the Miami Heat where individual players have their own personal chefs, or go out to eat on the road, Stromberg handles three meals a day for a total of 50 hungry athletes and coaches every time they play. It's a job he wouldn't trade for anything.
"There's only one chef of the German national soccer team. I'm so proud to do that. The guys are easy to handle, they are calm and friendly. I'm proud to be a part of the team," said Holger.
