February 9, 2023, 12:46 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
The daily life of football players in Germany is nothing like the glamour of the NFL. Instead, it’s a balancing act between a full-time job, family, and the training field. It’s managed only by people with great passion and dedication. FITBOOK followed one of them in a documentary.
Every year, the Super Bowl becomes one of the largest TV sports events in the world. About 800 million people will watch the final game of the U.S. professional football league NFL between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s a crazy show with a halftime spectacle. Whoever performs here is a music superstar. Whoever advertises here is a billion-dollar corporation. Whoever stands on the field here is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Outside the NFL, it’s different. In Germany, football is still a fringe sport, and the players of the German Football League GFL are at best semi-professionals–constantly juggling between sports, a full-time job, and family. Here, it’s not about million-dollar salaries but pure passion and joy for the game! FITBOOK followed one of these athletes for several months. The result is the first documentary in the series “FITBOOK Everyday Athletes.” It provides insights into the life of Giancarlo Boone (Berlin Adler).
Overview
Documentary “FITBOOK Everyday Athletes” with Giancarlo Boone
Giancarlo Boone is 39 years old, a semi-professional football player, and has been playing for the Berlin Adler for 17 years. With his team, he won the German Bowl in 2004 and 2009, the EFAF Cup in 2008, and the Eurobowl in 2014. He invests six to eight hours daily in his passion, football. He trains alone in the gym, on the field with the team, and stays up late for video analysis. Then there are the games on the weekend. He can’t make a living from it. That’s why he also has a full-time job. Boone usually leaves the house early–before his family is awake–and heads to the job center. There, he works “9 to 5.” During his lunch break, he takes short power naps to recharge. Anyone who thinks his day is full is mistaken. Boone also manages to fulfill his role as a husband and father of two daughters.
The Fascination of Football
How? Even his friends don’t know. They say Boone’s day seems to have more than 24 hours. It’s clear: Only with passion can this feat be accomplished. And what fascinates Giancarlo Boone so much about this sport, for which he sacrifices so much energy and time–and regularly risks his health? “It’s a smart sport. You have to think about tactics and technique. From the outside, it looks like everyone is just jumping on each other, but you need a lot of tactics and brains.”
Additionally, the physically demanding game allows him to really exert himself and unwind after a day at the office. The team is also an important factor: “It’s this group of men, full of aggression and power, chasing the ball. It’s like going to war with your people and fighting against the other team, but before and after the game, you’re brothers.”
Here is the premiere report of the documentary “FITBOOK Everyday Athletes” at Soho House Berlin.
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Even Injuries Can’t Stop Giancarlo Boone
Collateral damage is inevitable. In the documentary “FITBOOK Everyday Athletes,” we accompany Giancarlo Boone to the doctor, who recommends surgery and a break due to his injured shoulder. A hard blow for Boone! Fortunately, his family supports him in such moments. His wife Doreen and both daughters are always there, whether at the doctor’s office or in the car on the way to away games. The little ones are also caught up in football fever and are already active in cheerleading. Doreen Denalane-Boone: “They don’t miss other hobbies or a weekend without football. They’re fully involved. I might be the smallest football fan in the family, but I’m an even bigger fan of my husband.”
And even at 39, he is still passionate about his sport, as the documentary “FITBOOK Everyday Athletes” captures in vivid emotions. The anger after a red card, the disappointment of not being selected for the team, the fighting spirit during rehab training after the injury, the joy after a victory on the field. Boone pushes himself even harder than most of his teammates, who are often half his age. They look up to him: “Boone is primarily an absolute leader!” says Niels Schrödter.
Boone’s Tips for Young Football Players
And what advice does Giancarlo Boone have for young players just starting their football careers? “The most important thing in the sport is to train properly–and listen to the coaches. The coaches are trained accordingly. They know how to tackle or fall correctly. You shouldn’t take the sport lightly and should do a lot for your body because you will definitely sustain some injuries in this sport.”
By the way, Giancarlo Boone is not thinking about quitting anytime soon–quite the opposite. For the new season, at the age of 40, he is moving from the GFL to the relatively young European Football League EFL and to the team Berlin Thunder. We’re excited.
You can watch the complete documentary “FITBOOK Everyday Athletes” with Giancarlo Boone in the video player above. Enjoy!