Borussia Dortmund legend Neven Subotic has revealed his very close to spending all his footballing money, but for very good reason.
The Serbian is best known for his two Bundesliga titles under Jurgen Klopp where he formed a formidable defensive partnership with Mats Hummels.
Subotic retired in 2021 and rather than going into coaching he started the ‘Neven Subotic Foundation’.
Based in Dortmund the charity builds wells and sanitation facilities in East Africa and in 2019 they were given the Silver Rose Award 2019 by the European Parliament.
Speaking to Welt about his career, he explained that he started the foundation in 2012 and they’ve since provided drinking water to just shy of 500,000 people.
He added that the company started with a turnover of €76,000 per-year, but they’re now at €5million, with Subotic taking very little for himself.
Living in a small flat in Dortmund, he admitted he will soon run out of money from his football career.
“Indeed, my fortune will soon be depleted, yes,” he said. “I’ve donated around four million euros and do volunteer work.
“I played professional football for 14 years, but my salaries were gross. And I didn’t have that many outstanding years with a million-euro salary.
“That was for a while at Borussia Dortmund. My money is finite. That’s why corporate partnerships are so important: they help me cover the foundation’s costs and thus its foundation.”
However, it’s not just the 37-year-old’s bank balance that’s been impacted by the passion project, but his personal life too.
“When my ex-girlfriend and I broke up, my foundation became the central focus of my life,” he explained.
“Throughout my life, relationships have repeatedly broken down due to relocations: fleeing Yugoslavia, being deported from Germany, starting over in the USA, returning to Mainz for football, my career.
“I’ve been separated from my family for 20 years now. Relationships may end, but my work endures. It will last beyond my lifetime.
“Sometimes I could cry when I think about how significant that is. And my foundation has given me a new family.”
Klopp recently wrote that Subotic transformed from a footballer to a saint in his autobiography, and the favour was returned when he was asked which one person he’d like to meet again.
“I’ve had the privilege of meeting some truly impressive people over the past few years. What they’ve achieved is incredible,” he replied.
“But to interrogate them? I much prefer reading interviews with them.
“I ‘d really love to have a beer with Jürgen Klopp. He’s had a profound impact on my life, but we never once had a quiet moment together.
“He had 30 players to look after. It would be wonderful to reflect together now and get his input.”
We’re pretty sure he’ll take that offer…
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