98 professional Zimmermann: late starter “interesting trend”

Bundesliga

Careers in professional football develop differently. The 30-year-old Darmstadt defender Christoph Zimmermann has experienced firsthand that a lot of luck is involved.

Darmstadt (dpa). For Darmstadt defender Christoph Zimmermann, it is a “very interesting trend” that so many older football professionals such as Niclas Füllkrug, Pascal Groß and Marvin Ducksch have made it into the national team as late starters.

“Because it is actually suggested that you have to make your breakthrough as young as possible in order to make it,” said the 30-year-old Düsseldorf native in the “Kicker” interview and added: “In Barcelona, ​​16 and 17 year olds play still meet with the braces. If you haven’t made the jump by the time you’re 24, it’s often over.”

Prime example filling jug

Older players feel like they have to prove themselves over a longer period of time. “In the beginning, many people were surprised at Füllkrug as to what he was doing in the national team. His ratings show that he is completely right,” said Zimmermann.

To make a career as a professional, you also need a lot of luck, as he experienced. Zimmermann started at Borussia Mönchengladbach, then played for the second team at Borussia Dortmund until former coach Daniel Farke brought him to Norwich City and he was promoted to the English Premier League twice.

The fact that he is now playing in the Bundesliga with Darmstadt 98 is something special for him. “I think there are really many people for whom playing in the Bundesliga is the most normal thing in the world,” he said. For him, this is “anything but usual: I see the time as a bonus and know how to classify everything correctly.”

© dpa-infocom, dpa:231120-99-11504/2