Jurgen Klinsmann has made short list of the 2015 German Football Ambassador of the Year award. The United States head coach is already a 2014 FIFA Coach of the Year nominee.
The 50-year-old has been named to the three-man list by the initiative Deutscher Fussball Botschafter (German Football Ambassador), which was founded by German marketing and sponsoring expert Roland Bischof. The initiative honors the work of managers and players each year and by joining culture and sport.
"As a player, Klinsmann plied his trade for Inter Milan, AS Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur, Sampdoria and Orange County. Already at that time, he was a football ambassador and defined the picture of football Germany in the world," a statement on the official website read.
"He is still regarded as a 'legend' in England, and was voted 1995 Player of the Year there. At the 2006 World Cup, Germany as the hosts finished third. With this emotional World Cup Germany presented itself as open-minded and likeable host."
But the committee largely recognised Klinsmann for his work in the United States.
"He has been the U.S. head coach since 2011, with his biggest successes so far being the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup trophy in July 2013, and the round of the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup," the site added. "Football is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. and now is regarded as an aspiring sport next to the 'traditional" sports."
Israel's under-21 coach, and technical director of the Israel FA, Michael Ness, and the former coach Eckhard Krautzun also made the list for the accolade, which will be presented in mid-2015 in the German Federal Foreign Office in Berlin.
Earlier this week, Jurgen Klinsmann was named to the 2014 FIFA Coach of the Year shortlist, as the first U.S. coach ever and the only CONCACAF coach. He was included alongside names like Real Madrid's Carlos Ancelotti and Germany coach Joachim Low.