Jealous Bundesliga managers: in 2007, before a match between Mainz and Hoffenheim, Christian Heidel was quoted by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung as saying, “It is a shame that a team like that takes one of the 36 places in professional football.” “Bloody millionaires”, “Without Dietmar you would not even be here”, “With Hopp as patron the sport is being ruined”, “factory-made club full of mercenaries” – these are only some of the remarks with which Hoffenheim’s rise was greeted by rival clubs.