Germany’s Nutella-loving star compelled to construct chicken coop while wearing dungarees
Max Kruse, the former Wolfsburg star, found himself in a string of unfortunate events in 2016. It all began when he sneaked off to Berlin for a poker tournament. Kruse is an avid player and had previously made it to the final of a World Series event. This time, he competed late into the night and won a whopping £60,000. However, his luck quickly turned sour when he somehow lost the earnings in a taxi on his way back home.
Kruse tried to keep the incident under wraps but eventually, Wolfsburg and the German press found out. As a result, he was fined £20,000 by his club for playing in the tournament. With £80,000 down, one would expect Kruse to turn to comfort food, but he surprised everyone by revealing his addiction to Nutella. His Bundesliga club had previously warned him about his excessive consumption of the sugar-rich treat during a winter training camp.
The week from hell for Kruse continued as he was sent to take part in a community project on behalf of his club. He was photographed wearing dungarees while helping construct a chicken coop. It was all too much for national team manager Joachim Low, who believed that players should be focused on football and act as role models both on and off the pitch. Consequently, Kruse was never selected for the German national team again.
Despite the setbacks, Kruse remained passionate about his poker hobby. After retiring from football, he continued competing in World Series of Poker Europe events and even won an event in 2022. He expressed his joy and hoped that it wouldn’t be his last victory. Kruse continues to play poker regularly and is a familiar face on the World Series of Poker tour.
Max Kruse’s career in football was certainly eventful, filled with highs and lows, on and off the pitch. From his poker winnings disappearing in a taxi to his Nutella addiction being exposed, Kruse’s life seemed like a rollercoaster ride. Although his actions may have raised eyebrows, one thing is undeniable – his love for poker remains strong even after hanging up his boots. As Kruse continues to compete in poker tournaments, his fans eagerly await more successes from this unique and talented individual.