Dr. Philipp Laux
Current job:
Self-employed business coach for top sports and business executives and team psychologist of Borussia Dortmund
Studies in Mannheim:
Psychology
Highest degree:
Doctorate
Career
In 2003, the year after I ended my career as a professional soccer player due to an injury, I started a new chapter in my life and decided to study Psychology at the University of Mannheim. At the beginning of my studies, I experienced the workload as being very intense, as I had to learn how to learn again. But in the end, my effort and perseverance paid off, and I am very grateful that the University of Mannheim offered me this new life perspective after my soccer career.
During my studies, I never lost touch with my previous life as a sportsman: while I was in the bachelor’s program, I seized the opportunity to work as a goalkeeper coach for the youth team of the German Football Association (DFB). During my master’s degree, I got the chance to work as a goalkeeper coach for TSG Hoffenheim under coach Ralf Rangnick.
In 2008, shortly after I completed my master’s degree in Psychology, I was approached by FC Bayern about the position of team psychologist for the professional soccer team. This request was both an opportunity and a big challenge at the same time. During my time as a team psychologist in professional soccer, I worked four years for FC Bayern, three years for RB Leipzig, three years for VfB Stuttgart, and two years for the DFB under-21 team.
Between 2012 and 2015, I also completed my doctorate at Heidelberg University alongside my professional commitments.
Since May 2020, I have been the team psychologist of my former sports club, Borussia Dortmund. In addition, I am a self-employed business coach and speaker for top sports and business executives.
Tips for starting your career
Many successful people have had a career that has been marked by detours as well as ups and downs. Accept that your career is not always straightforward and think of obstacles as a chance to find the right place in your “new” job. Embrace new opportunities. Every new experience you gain in your personal and professional life will be valuable. This can also lead to times in your career when everything feels stressful, and you need to push yourself beyond your limits. Therefore, it is essential to enjoy what you do. Develop a sense of whether your current job and employer are right for you. This is the only way you will be efficient in the long term. Perseverance, commitment, awareness of your own strengths, and joy in what you are doing—those four key factors will help you find your place in the professional world step by step.
Relevance of the studied program
As I only began my studies at the age of 30, university life has taught me many of the factors mentioned above: you have to go through rough phases, deal with setbacks, face new situations, and maintain a positive attitude towards your objectives. In addition, the University of Mannheim offered me the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of academic learning, innovative thinking, and psychology. All this took place in an inspiring and motivating work environment with students and professors. One can say that my studies at the University of Mannheim marked the start of my “second” professional career.
Last updated: February 2023
Credit: Christian Kaufmann