Welcoming German Sports Icon and Old Friend Thorsten Legat to Thai Garden Resort
This past holiday season felt extra special at Thai Garden Resort. We were thrilled to welcome Thorsten Legat, the famous German footballer and TV personality, as our guest for Christmas and New Year. Thorsten, his wife Alexandra, and their son Nico stayed with us for nearly two weeks, fully enjoying the holiday spirit in a tropical setting. It was their first time in Thailand and their fist visit to Thai Garden Resort, making the experience even more memorable.
They celebrated Christmas and New Year’s surrounded by sunshine, palm trees, and Pattaya’s notable warm hospitality. The Legat family quickly made themselves at home, joining in our holiday festivities and enjoying everything the resort has to offer. Their friendly spirit and enthusiasm added something special to our celebrations, making this festive season truly special.
Highlights from Thai Garden Resort’s Christmas and New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Our year-end celebrations are truly special. More than 200 guests joined us to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve. We set up a beautiful Christmas tree in the lobby that lit up the nights. Guests enjoyed live music, dancing, and singing throughout the evening. Our executive chef and his team prepared a buffet with over 60 traditional and international dishes for everyone to enjoy.
The magic didn’t stop there. During Christmas, children from The Abundant Life Foundation sang cheerful carols that surprised the guests. Then on New Year’s Eve, we brought back the spectacular Dragon and Lion Dance, complete with stunts, fire shows, and colorful mascots. Take a look at the highlights from our year-end celebrations!
Thorsten Legat: A Journey of Football, Family, and Fame
Thorsten grew up in Bochum, in Germany’s Ruhr region, where football is a way of life. Surrounded by sports culture, it’s no surprise he developed a passion for football early. He played for TuS Vorwärts Werne’s youth team until 1984, then spent over 15 years as a midfielder in the German Bundesliga, playing for some of the country’s top clubs.
Here are the clubs Thorsten Legat represented over his 15-year football career.
- VfL Bochum: 1986 – 1991
- SV Werder Bremen: 1991 – 1994
- Eintracht Frankfurt: 1994 – 1995
- VfB Stuttgart: 1995 – 1999
- FC Schalke 04: 2000 – 2001
After helping Bochum remain in the top division during the 1990-1991 season, Thorsten joined SV Werder Bremen. In three years, he played almost 100 matches and was part of the team that won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992 and the DFB-Pokal in 1994. In total, Thorsten played in over 240 Bundesliga matches and became known for his hard work, smart tactics, and strong, disciplined play in both midfield and defense.
Here’s an interesting bit of history: Thorsten first met Mr. Gerritt Niehaus, now the owner of Thai Garden Resort, in 1994. Back then, Mr. Niehaus was an investor at Eintracht Frankfurt, and Thorsten was playing for the team. That’s when their friendship began.
After retiring from football in 2001, Thorsten stayed close to the sport by coaching, especially with youth and amateur teams. He enjoys passing on his Bundesliga experience to the next generation.
In recent years, Thorsten has become a familiar face on German television, appearing in many sports and entertainment programs.
His personality, resilience, and competitive spirit have helped him connect with a wide audience. He has been featured in over 25 entertainment and reality shows.
Some of Thorsten’s best-known TV moments include his time on “Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!” (Germany’s version of “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!”), and his appearance on “Das Sommerhaus der Stars” with his wife Alexandra.
He has also shown his competitive and adventurous side on shows like “Promiboxen,” “TV total Stock Car Crash Challenge,” and “RTL Turmspringen,” showing he’s ready for any challenge beyond football. Thorsten’s TV appearances go beyond major reality shows.
He has been a guest and contestant on programs such as “Beat the Star,” “Das Duell um die Welt,” “Promi Big Brother – Die Late Night Show,” and “Hallo Hessen.” He has connected with audiences well beyond his football career.
Thorsten and Alexandra Legat met in the early 1990s and have been married since 1996.
They say the key to their long marriage is always supporting each other, especially during career changes and tough times. Their steady support has brought them closer, showing how being there for your partner can make a real difference.
Thorsten has written a book called “Wenn das Leben foul spielt” (When Life Plays Foul), where he talks about the personal and professional challenges he has faced since childhood and reflects on the difficult times in his life and career.
More Than a Stay: Friendships and Memories at Thai Garden Resort
We were truly delighted to welcome Thorsten and his family to Thai Garden Resort for their holiday. Our team loved seeing them relax and enjoy Pattaya’s lively atmosphere. We hope Pattaya’s hospitality made their visit unforgettable, and we would be happy to welcome them back anytime, whether for another holiday or just to catch up and experience more of Thailand.
Seeing Thorsten reconnect with Mr. Niehaus was a touching highlight of their stay. They caught up and reminisced about their early days in Germany, even after many years apart. Their friendship picked up right where it left off. Moments like these are always special at Thai Garden Resort.
We take great pride in being a place where people from all over the world can enjoy Thai hospitality, create new memories, and reconnect with old friends. Whether you are returning or visiting for the first time, we aim to make every stay enjoyable, relaxing, and memorable.
More than half of our guests have been coming back to Thai Garden Resort for over a decade, and some for even longer. Many have become more than just customers; they are true friends. We value this sense of community and connection.
We take great pride in being a place where people from all over the world can enjoy Thai hospitality, create new memories, and reconnect with old friends. Whether you are returning or visiting for the first time, we aim to make every stay enjoyable, relaxing, and memorable.
More than half of our guests have been coming back to Thai Garden Resort for over a decade, and some for even longer. Many have become more than just customers; they are true friends. We value this sense of community and connection.
For us, it’s not just about offering a comfortable stay, but about creating a welcoming place where real relationships can grow. We’ve seen families grow, celebrated milestones together, and watched new friendships form by the pool or over dinner in our gardens. Many guests who met here now plan future holidays together, turning their visits into shared traditions.
Looking back on 42 years of hospitality at Thai Garden Resort, we are deeply grateful to every guest who has made us part of their journey. We hope everyone who walks through our doors feels at home and leaves with memories and friendships that last a lifetime. That’s the true magic of Thai Garden Resort, and we look forward to sharing it for many more years.