Bastian Schweinsteiger should receive between 10,000 and 25,000 euros per appearance on ARD.Image: dpa / Tom Weller
Bastian Schweinsteiger has appeared regularly as an expert on ARD since the end of his football career in 2019. Even during the World Cup, Schweini was the expert par excellence for the broadcaster. Together with Esther Sedlaczek, he accompanied the controversial World Cup in Qatar before and after the games. Especially during the last game, the 38-year-old caused a stir with a joke about his co-moderator when he offered her to go on vacation together. She was then visibly perplexed.
It was not the first time that the ex-world champion caused a lot of conversation in his ARD job – in a positive but also in a negative sense.
Schweinsteiger received criticism for ARD moderation
In the past there has also been criticism of Schweinsteiger. For example, during the half-time break during the EM 2021, he published a post on social media about a watch as part of a paid advertising partnership without the knowledge of ARD. Schweinsteiger then apologized, but still received a warning.
But some fans also criticized his performance as a football expert as rather poor. On Twitter, some described his analyzes in April 2022 as too simple.
At the World Cup in Qatar, however, there was great applause from fans and critics for Schweinsteiger’s critical voices. However, the majority also expects the former soccer star to deliver for a fee of 10,000 to 25,000 euros per appearance.
Schweinsteiger will remain on ARD and “Sportschau”.
The contract between Schweinsteiger and ARD was originally concluded for three years. These expired at the end of the World Cup. Now the time has come and a decision has been made on how to proceed with Schweinsteiger.
But as both Schweinsteiger and ARD sports coordinator Axel Balkausky themselves confirmed, he will stay with the “Sportschau” for a few more years. According to Balkausky, it was already agreed last year that they basically wanted to continue on this path together.
In addition, Balkausky praised his expert for his performance. Schweinsteiger has proven “that he is not only an entertaining conversationalist, but that he is also an excellent analyst.” He also dares to name and classify critical topics, especially at the 2022 World Cup. It is therefore a great pleasure for him to have the former national player on his team at the 2024 European Championships in Germany. Bastian Schweinsteiger himself said about his extension:
“I am very pleased that we will continue the successful cooperation beyond the home EM 2024.”
However, it is also important to further develop the “Sportschau” and to offer the viewers “the best entertainment and information”, emphasized Schweinsteiger.
When football clubs sign expensive players, they always take a risk. Because even if the footballer has achieved great things at other clubs, there is no guarantee that he will deliver like that again.
