In May 2018, Karlsruher SC, newly relegated to the 3. Liga, announced Choi would join for the 2018–19 season having agreed on a three-year contract until 2021. The South Korean midfielder extended his stay with Karlsruhe and remained with the club until the end of the 22/23 season. In January 2024, Choi joined K League 1 club Gwangju FC and has made 26 appearances for the side, which is currently seventh in the South Korean top tier.

Choi spoke to World Soccer Talk‘s Ben McFadyean about his career and what he misses about the German side that gave him his professional debut.

Kyoung Rok Choi interview

Question: Kyoung-rok, you have been back playing in Korea since January. How are you enjoying the experience so far?

Kyoung-rok: I am happy to be back in my country. I am enjoying playing in the K-League.

How is the standard of the K-League compared to the 2. Bundesliga?

Kyoung-rok: I have already played 26 matches since coming back and I must say that the standard here is pretty impressive. We are very well-prepared here.

There are new names in the top tier. Clubs like Seoul signed Jesse Lingard from Manchester United. What impact are signings like this having on the K-League?

Kyoung-rok: Well-known players like Jesse Lingard in the league, of course, also add a challenge. I would like to see more going forward, it brings a lot to our league.

A historic club to start one’s career with

You played for St. Pauli for four seasons. The Millerntor stadium is well-known for its atmosphere, there is also an intense atmosphere in the World Cup Stadium in Daejeon. How do the grounds compare?

Kyoung-rok: Millerntor is uniquely intense. Twenty-nine-thousand at home almost every game sold out, you cannot really compare with many places. Here in Korea, the fans are very organized though. Very good atmosphere for the 8,000 who were here tonight. Even away we get a good following as you saw tonight.

St. Pauli were promoted to the Bundesliga this season. Did you celebrate the promotion with the players?

Kyoung-rok: I follow their games, and I sent some messages to the club via Instagram. Pauli is my first club, and I am always inspired to see the guys doing well. Getting back to the Bundesliga is a huge thing for the fans and the club.

You came up through the U19 to the first team and had some successful seasons with the club, do you keep in touch with many of the players at St. Pauli?

Kyoung-rok: I moved to Karlsruher SC in 2018, I am more in touch with the guys there, friends like Dirk Carlson who I played with at Karlsruhe, who is now at St. Pölten in Austria and is a good pal from my time in the German league. We keep in touch.

Memories of time spent in Germany

The rivalry between Hamburger SV and St. Pauli is mythical. What did it mean for the smaller club in Hamburg to get promoted ahead of HSV?

Kyoung-rok: HSV has been desperate to get back since they were relegated in 2018 but without success. As a St. Pauli player of course, like all former players, I am super happy that Pauli made it back.

You played in the German leagues for 9 seasons, it was a huge part of your career. What are the special experiences you look back on?

Kyoung-rok: There are many special moments but of course my debut against Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2014/15. I scored a brace and gave an assist, a special way to get my professional career started.

The Euro 2024 was in Germany this summer, what did you think of the standard of the German team and the tournament?

Kyoung-rok: I watched a lot of games, Germany did well. Julian Nagelsmann seems like the right coach for the side. He brings new strategies and ways of doing things I like what is going and I think it has good prospects.

Keeping Germany and St. Pauli close even in South Korea

Do you still have the chance to visit Germany, and do you maintain ties over there?

Kyoung-rok: My brother lives in Hamburg so I will be visiting again when I have the chance. I am always pleased to have the chance to go back and also watch some Bundesliga games.

You mentioned your strong affinity with St. Pauli. Will you go to a game at Millerntor when you get back over?

Kyoung-rok: I would very much like to see a game, especially in the Bundesliga for sure. I plan to.

St. Pauli is known to be a unique football club with a special culture. What makes the club so unique?

Kyoung-rok: If I think back about the Millerntor, I think of the players’ tunnel. You come out of this dark tunnel with the red lights, and you see the pitch ahead of you. You hear the fans, the intensity is like almost no other ground. An electrifying experience even thinking of it.

Do you have something to share with the St. Pauli fans?

Kyoung-rok: I would like to say to the fans who remember me there that I had an unforgettable time at the club. St. Pauli is part of me.

Finally, Choi, it’s early days. Yet, St. Pauli has lost Fabian Hurzeler (Coach) to Brighton. Do you believe that the Brown and Whites can stay up in the Bundesliga?

Kyoung-rok: For me, there is no doubt they can do it.

PHOTOS: IMAGO

1. FC Bayern München

A hectic season and no silverware, third place for the ‘Rekordmeister’ was unacceptable for all but the most die-hard fans of the ‘Reds’.

The break with the monotony of Bayern’s eleven titles in a row, and the unbeaten record of the Leverkusen team, has put the German league right back on the map. Bayern fans however are now baying to see a return to the routine of winning for the new season.

Harry Kane has been an outstanding success, albeit at a by Bundesliga standards unheard price of over €100m. The England captain is much more than just a goal scorer, he is becoming a commanding presence at the club.

Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller will need replacing, and Leon Goretzka and Kingsley Coman continue to be unsettled. The outlook is good, and the side can count on an outstanding balance of talents and highly experienced players.

The reinforcement of Michael Olise adds significantly to the right wing, Joao Pahlinha was among Fulham’s leading players and adds to the stability in the heart of midfield. Hiroki Ito at center-back is also a top signing and one that Stuttgart may rue. Watch out for attacking midfielder Arijon Ibrahimovic.

A question mark however remains. Vincent Kompany is known in Germany for his two seasons with Hamburger SV. He left Belgian giants Anderlecht one season into a four-year contract. He showed his mettle with Burnley. In particular, in the title-winning season in the Championship, the former Manchester City man brought some astute transfers and tactical nous to Turf Moor.

Kompany is still unproven and Bayern, despite the unmatched depth of the squad, is a club in flux. The season ahead is a massive challenge for the Belgian, but he is a world-class challenger and can deliver.

2. Bayer 04 Leverkusen

The renewal of Xabi Alonso’s contract sets the tone for the ‘Werkself’, the former Liverpool man was not just a big success as a player on Merseyside, he has shaped a competitive side in Leverkusen.

The good news is that the club has retained the most important players including Victor Boniface, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Edmond Tapsoba, Granit Xhaka, Alejandro Grimaldo, and Jonas Hofmann.

Attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz is key, but watch out for new winger France U21 Martin Terrier, and Spanish international midfielder Aleix Garcia. Despite losing Adam Losek to Hoffenheim and quality right-back Josip Stanic who has been recalled by Bayern, the ‘Red and Blacks’ will once more be among the top two and will again surprise the observers in the season ahead.

3. Borussia Dortmund

BVB’s world-class scouting operation was improved with the leadership of Sven Mislintat. Lars Ricken has stepped forward as the new sporting director with former captain Sebastian Kehl moving sideways.

Critics have argued that with Ian Maatsen, BVB has let go of one of the best left-sided players since Achraf Hakimi. Will Ramy Bensebaini be able to fill the position, or will there be another signing? The left wing looks vulnerable. The club remains open to offers for unsettled Karim Adeyemi and the other option Jamie Gittens is still inexperienced. Another signing may be needed.

The versatile Yan Couto may prove to be the signing of the summer. A talent to watch out for is also eighteen-year-old forward Julien Duranville. Felix Nmecha and Sebastien Haller have yet to prove their value in the squad.

Emre Can has been reappointed as captain providing continuity and exactly what the Frankfurt-born player needs to flourish and in his preferred defensive midfield role. In the attack, the retention of Donyel Malen is a strong signal. Youssoufa Moukoko would benefit from a loan with the signing of Maximilian Beier from Hoffenheim. With the departure of Mats Hummels and Marco Reus, another player set to impose his authority on the side is Wunderkind Julian Brandt.

Nuri Sahin has taken over from Edin Terzic. The new boss has the absolute admiration of the fans from his time as a player. Concerns come with a lack of experience. He took Super Lig side Antalyaspor from a relegation candidate to seventh with an undefeated run from matchday 23 to the end of the season. The Bundesliga is levels above that.

4. VfB Stuttgart

Having narrowly avoided the playoffs in 21/22, ‘Die Schwaben’ under coach Sebastian Hoeness built on their impressive improvement and finished second last season. The loss of Serhou Guirassy, who scored 28 goals in 28 league games he played in is crucial. Brighton’s Deniz Undav is the key signing up front. Augsburg’s leading scorer Bosnian Ermedin Demirovic has been added, an astute signing albeit at a price.

The retention of attacking midfielders Enzo Millot and Josha Vagnoman is crucial. In defense, they have retained Pascal Stenzel and Anthony Rouault, and with the signing of Jeff Chabot, VfB has one of Cologne’s most consistent defenders incoming, but the shoes of Waldemar Anton and Hiroki Ito are big ones to fill. A player to watch is winger Justin Diehl.

Finding the balance in defense is key to another Champions League place. Stuttgart has the depth they need to compete across three competitions and are posed for another impressive season.

5. RB Leipzig

Since Marco Rose has been back at the helm in Leipzig, the club has been on a good path, crowned by the DFB Pokal victory in 2023 but the Rote Bullen were well beaten into fourth place in the past season.

This summer crucially has seen the departure of the outstanding attacking midfielder Dani Olmo which remains a challenge. Otherwise, though the squad has been kept together including Xavi Simons, Benjamin Sesko, Christoph Baumgartner, and Fábio Carvalho all players with a track record of delivering.

In Lois Openda they have an outstanding striker. Willi Orban and David Raum are the out-and-out leaders in defense alongside Benjamin Heinrichs. Lukas Klostermann is also a versatile backup. New signing Norway international Antonio Nusa adds further options for the left wing. Attacking midfielder Assan Ouédraogo is a player to watch out for.

The Champions League is on the cards, and they have funds in the bank to bring in more signings in January if needed, but the ambitious East German club is not a title contender as yet.

6. Eintracht Frankfurt

Eintracht Frankfurt concluded the 2023/24 season with a respectable tally of 47 points, finishing sixth both at the mid-point and at the end of the season.

Dino Toppmöller’s side is the second youngest in the league. Eintracht has made some smart transfers this summer, the loan of striker Hugo Ekitike has been made permanent. A player to watch out for is eighteen-year-old midfielder Can Uzun. He has the potential to have a real breakthrough season.

The loss of center-back Willian Pacho is an important one, but Robin Koch has been made permanent and the former Leeds United player is key in defense.

In the highly effective Omar Marmoush, the side has an outstanding leader in attack. Ellyes Skhiri is an in-demand defensive midfielder who is known for his tactical intelligence and ball-winning abilities which they have done well to retain as well as stalwarts Kevin Trapp, Robin Koch, and yes Mario Götze.

Talents like Hugo Larsson, Ansgar Knauff, Junior Ebimbe, Marcel Wenig, and Mehdi Loune provide depth and versatility. Oscar Hojlund is a new signing known for good defensive positioning, ball-carrying abilities, and acceleration.

A further player with the potential to have a breakthrough season is US-born offensive midfielder Paxten Aaronson.

Overall, the Waldstadion remains one of the toughest places to pick up points and the SGE has all the qualities for a European finish once more.

7. VFL Wolfsburg

A twelfth-placed finish for the ‘Green & Whites’ was under the expectation for the Volkswagen-backed club, the club had a season of two halves in 23/24. At times, Wolfsburg looked like being dragged into the relegation battle, but then the second-half series saw a marked improvement.

Ralph Hasenhüttl is back in the Bundesliga and has made some good signings, the key signing is that of keeper Kamil Grabara to replace Koen Casteels. The introduction of PAOK center-back Konstantinos Koulierakis has added a player who has the potential to be a leader in defense. The only recognizable loss is winger Vaclav Cerny.

In the season ahead can build on regulars Maximilian Arnold, Ridle Baku, Lovro Majer, Maxence Lacroix, and Kevin Paredes. An important retention is that of top scorer Denmark’s Jonas Wind. A player to watch out for is Germany U21 Killian Fischer who is a versatile player who can play in the back line and defensive midfield.

Wolfsburg has added good depth and should have the quality to qualify for a European place.

8. Werder Bremen

Die Werderaner are on track for a top-half finish in the 24/25 season under coach Ole Werner, the side has the quality across the squad to build on the foundations made in Germany’s top tier in 23/24 where they missed out only on goal difference, to Heidenheim, on a place in the European conference League qualifying matches.

The Green and Whites lost winger Eren Dinkci to Freiburg but have made a strong signing in the form of Skelly Alvero from Olympique Lyon, who stands at an astonishing 2.2m tall.

In addition, Striker talent Keke Topp has been added in the off-season. Otherwise, the squad has been kept together, crucially strikers Marvin Duksch and Justin Djinmah. Senne Lynen has established himself since joining from Union St Gilloise and made himself indispensable for the defensive performance.

Right-backs Mitchell Weiser and Marco Friedly are crucial at the heart of the defense. In the heart of midfield, Werder continues to count on Romano Schmid. Overall, the squad has improved in depth but over-reliant on Marvin Duksch, an additional striker would be beneficial.

Watch out for talented winger Leon Opitz who could break through.

Newly promoted in 22/23, the side will continue to improve and is on course to return to where the 4-time Deutsche Meister belongs in European competition.

9. SC Freiburg

After twelve seasons Christian Streich has been replaced by his assistant and former player Julian Schuster, last season the Breisgauer finished in tenth, the squad proved to not be deep enough to play across three competitions.

The club has beefed up with the addition of a player with strong potential in the form of Eren Dinkci from Werder Bremen who can play in midfield or on the wing, Patrick Osterhage who was a mainstay at VfL Bochum also adds quality to the midfield. Center-back Keven Schlotterbeck, who was on loan to Bochum, has been transferred to Augsburg.

Otherwise, the black and whites go into the season with a relatively unchanged side. They continue to be able to count on top scorer Vicenzo Grifo. Also, Michael Gregoritsch provides depth in the attack. In the heart of the defense, Matthias Ginter can be relied on.

Winger Ritsu Doan, alongside Roland Sallai, was among the top performers in the past season. Noah Atubolu has established himself well in the box.

The club that benefits from being among the most loyal fanbases in the league can push for a European place. Still, much depends on how well Julian Schuster can mold the team to his system.

10. TSG Hoffenheim

‘Die Kraichgauer’ has seen a steady improvement under US coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. Last season, Hoffenheim finished seventh, qualifying for the Europa League in the season ahead.

Center-back Attila Szalai is one of the pillars of the side as is Marius Bülter on the left wing. Marvin Pieringer is a talent in attack. For now, striker Adam Hlosek joins from champions Bayer Leverkusen to support Andrei Kramaric. He was the second-best scorer last season in the Bundesliga with 15 goals.

In midfield, Alex Prass is an interesting signing who will add depth on the left. Wout Weghorst and Ilhas Bebou are crucial players who Matarazzo will rely on in the season ahead. A player to watch out for is twenty-five-year-old midfielder Anton Stach.

The defense remains a concern that needs addressing despite the addition of Attila Szalai from SC Freiburg. TSG can push again for a European place in the season ahead. But, it must adjust without Maxi Beier.

There is unrest behind the scenes with changes in key positions including the managing director Alex Rosen being replaced by Bastian Huber. Plus, the squad will need further work, in particular in the defense and forward line.

11. Union Berlin

Union were the team to watch in 22/23 but in the past season, the additional challenge of playing in the Champions League proved a challenge too far. At the end of the season, the East Berliners were level on points with sixteenth-placed VfL Bochum and they avoided the relegation playoffs as a result of goal difference only.

New coach Bo Svensson showed his quality at Mainz 05 and should provide a steadying hand which is much needed. The transfers that Die Köppenicker’ have done this summer include BVB’s Tom Rothe, a nineteen-year-old left-back who has the potential to become a regular in the side.

Slovakia international Lazlo Benes comes from Hamburger SV and is a versatile and experienced midfielder in an area where the side was under par in the past season in particular after the loss of Morten Thorsby.

A key to the side’s success is the retention of Robin Gosens, a player who continues to be in demand. Kevin Volland brought experience and quality, but he brings major expectations. Retaining Diogo Leite and Danilho Doekhi is also crucial. A player to watch out for is Austrian defensive talent Leopold Querfeld who has the potential to become one of the German top tier’s best defenders.

The squad is limited in terms of depth as it stands. There is enough talent on the side, but it will need to convert more of its opportunities to reach its potential. Much rests on the form of Benedikt Hollerbach or the emergence or signing of a consistent scorer.

An improved performance lies ahead but no more than midfield.

12. Borussia Mönchengladbach

Borussia in the 2019/20 season had players like Thuram, Plea, Stindl, and Embolo as a formidable attacking quartet. With 20 wins from 34 games, the Foals finished an impressive fourth behind FC Bayern, BVB, and RB Leipzig.

Borussia Mönchengladbach has not been able to build on that season since. This was followed by 8th place, 10th place, 10th place, and, most recently a disappointing 14th place and the German league is the worse off for the poor performance of the five-time deutsche Meister.

In the current transfer period, they have signed three experienced players with leadership qualities: Tim Kleindienst, Philipp Sander, and Kevin Stöger, who were among the absolute top performers at Heidenheim, Kiel, and Bochum last season, respectively. which promises improvements.

Probably the most interesting player in the Borussia Mönchengladbach squad is Kevin Stöger. He has a strong leadership mentality and adds enormous danger, especially from set pieces.

On paper, Borussia Mönchengladbach has put together a really strong squad. Gladbach can finish in the top half of the table, and if everything comes together, the squad has the potential to finish in an international place.

13. FSV Mainz 05

Mainz 05 will be one of the most exciting smaller teams of the upcoming Bundesliga season. The offense in particular promises a lot, but defensively something still needs to happen.

Mainz 05 has exciting new players in the squad. Kaishu Sano from Japan in July, Paul Nebel returns from his loan year at Karlsruher SC in outstanding form. These two players in particular have the potential to make a quick impact.

In terms of transfers Brajan Gruda has moved to Brighton & Hove Albion and is a loss to the side. Jae-Sung Lee and Jonathan Burkardt as well as Karim Onisiwo and new signing Armindo Sieb are players expected to make an impact in the side.

Bo Henriksen unfancied Midtjylland to the Danish Cup in 2022, and this team will have nothing to do with relegation this season, perhaps more.

14. Heidenheim

After its sensational promotion, 1. FC Heidenheim was considered the number one relegation candidate before the start of the 2023/24 season. However, long-serving coach Frank Schmidt formed a team that played good football with passion and discipline.

Players such as Jan-Niklas Beste, Tim Kleindienst, and Eren Dinkci became Bundesliga stars and led the promoted team to the Europa Conference League all the more sensationally. With the loss of the trio, the club has brought in striker Mikkel Kaufmann from Union Berlin, winger Sirlord Conteh from Paderborn, and winger Leo Scienza from SSV Ulm.

One to watch is Bayern loanee Paul Wanner, he combines talent and quality in various attacking positions.

15. FC Augsburg

The quality of the FC Augsburg squad does not suggest they can attack the top half of the table this season. New coach Jess Thorup’s system looks promising, but the squad is under par as it stands.

In particular, there is a lack of wingers. In addition, replacing top striker Ermedin Demirovic is a big task. The key signings are Samuel Essende, Keven Schlotterbeck, and Nediljko Labrovic. The challenge will also be the back four with three new players. A player to watch is central midfielder Arne Maier who was a consistent performer last season.

If things go well, the FCA can crack 40 points, but the more things don’t go as hoped, the deeper into the relegation battle they will once more go. It’s unlikely to be a carefree season.

16. Holstein Kiel

Marcel Rapp completely turned Holstein Kiel around once in the 2 Bundesliga and then led them to success with stability and structure. Things could now also go well again in the Bundesliga.

The new northern lights of the Bundesliga were able to keep the majority of their squad together despite their promotion. Loan player Tom Rothe initially returned to Borussia Dortmund. Now, he is on his way to Union Berlin. Holstein Kiel has replaced their leading player with Poland wing-back Tymoteusz Puchacz.

The second major departure is captain Philipp Sander, who joined Borussia Mönchengladbach. However, Holstein Kiel has already found a replacement and picked up Magnus Knudsen, a more defensive-minded who will most likely play off a six. An additional important signing is Armin Gigovic, a slightly more attacking player likely to play in a number eight position.

The balanced squad should ensure consistency, but the team will need to perform consistently to stay out of the relegation zone which with the squad available may be too much of a task at this level as it stands.

17. VfL Bochum

VfL Bochum has lost some important players. It remains unclear how the new squad will work together. The team from the Castroper Straße is once again one of the hottest candidates for relegation this season.

Despite securing their place in the Bundesliga for the third time in a row, VfL Bochum had to let several regular players go, including Takuma Asano, Patrick Osterhage, and – most painfully – Kevin Stöger. The attacking midfielder was one of the best players in the pre-season. He now plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach.

However, if the new additions, principally Dani de Wit, Ibrahima Sissoko, Timo Horn, and Samuel Bamba live up to their promise, it could be enough to keep the team out of the relegation zone – without having to take a diversion via the relegation playoffs.

18. St Pauli

St. Pauli has signed Alexander Blessin as their new coach, and the cards are likely to be reshuffled under him. The coach comes to the Millerntor from Belgian cup winners Royal Union Saint-Gilloise. On paper, the 51-year-old appears to be a decent replacement for master coach Fabian Hürzeler.

In Belgium, Blessin focused on counter-pressing as the most important element of the game, just as he did during his time at KV Oostende – and presumably learned during his time at RB Leipzig. There is a lot to suggest that he will also implement this playing idea with St. Pauli.

As in Belgium, Blessin will rely on a high tempo and constant pressing to put the opposition under strain. Good passing ratios and a lot of possession are unlikely to be the result of this type of football, but the team will create plenty of goalscoring opportunities and, ideally, convert them.

A lot will depend on striker Jackson Irvine in terms of goals. English right-back Fin Stevens from Brentford is among the only notable signings the club has made this summer. Hamburg’s second team will, despite their ambitions, struggle to avoid relegation.

Anyone’s guess regarding Bundesliga predictions this season

As to who will challenge for the title, who will take European places and in what order, and the candidates for the drop, the season ahead is more open than it has been for some seasons.

In terms of the European places, in particular, Augsburg, Werder Bremen, Mainz, and Gladbach could provide some surprises. BVB and Leipzig will also continue their upward trajectory and have a word in the title race.

The two newly promoted Northern clubs, St Pauli and Holstein, are unpredictable. Like Heidenheim before them, these two could end up securing an extended stay in the league, and maybe more.

In the title race, Bayern Munich is back. It will force itself back onto center stage and can impress in Europe.

In the first season with eight Bundesliga teams in Europe, there is also plenty to look forward to in the UEFA tournaments. Last year’s outstanding performances saw three German teams in the last four of various competitions.

Expect a breakthrough season for some incredible new signings. As ever, the spectacle of the best fans in Europe across the league is now even better. St Pauli’s Millerntor is now in the mix.

PHOTOS: IMAGO

Rüdiger Ziehl took over 1. FC Saarbrücken at the start of the 2021/22 season. The team finished the 2022/23 season in fifth place. In 2023/24 the team agonizingly missed out on third place in the promotion play-offs by three points but reached the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal after knocking out Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Rüdiger Ziehl interview

McFadyean: You played with VfL Wolfsburg II in your last two seasons and in the third tier. In England, the second teams, under-23s or under-21s, play in a separate league, which is a closed-door league. Do you think it makes sense for second teams to be playing in a professional third tier?

Ziehl: “In my view, it makes sense. That way you have real competition for the young players. If you only play against other under-23s or under-21s, you don’t have the same pressure. When you play in the third or fourth tier, you’re playing against 30-year-olds, experienced players, which is far better for the young players and in front of big crowds. It’s the best possible situation. Not every player is ready to make the jump from the U19s to the Bundesliga.”

McFadyean: As a club manager you manage a wide range of aspects of the club. Is it much more expensive for a club to have a team in the fourth or third tier?

Ziehl: “There is a huge jump from the fourth, the Regionalliga to the third, the Dritte Liga, in terms of the costs for security, transport, players, and salaries but it is worthwhile in terms of media income as the games are shown on Magenta Sports TV in Germany. You have big clubs like 1860 Munich, and Dynamo Dresden in the third division but of course, you also have to travel much further which brings big costs with it.”

McFadyean: When you look at it, few of the players from Borussia Dortmund U19s or U23s make it into the first team. In the current squad, there is only one, (US international U19 winger Cole Campbell). Can you explain why it is that the young players don’t make it?

Ziehl: “It’s much easier to start a career in the Bundesliga with a club that is a bit smaller, where players are not on the top level, say Augsburg or Heidenheim, rather than competing at Dortmund or Bayern where the players are world-class. That is a step not many players can make directly.

“It’s a big jump for young players from the U19 or U23 to the Bundesliga. It’s better to start in the second tier or at a smaller Bundesliga side.”

McFadyean: You played between 2000-02 under coach Otto Rehagel for 4-time German Champions 1 FC Kaiserslautern. You played there with Miroslav Klose, Germany’s all-time leading scorer. What are Rehagel and Miro’s ‘X Factor’?

Ziehl: “Miro is a really good guy. He worked very hard for his success but everybody liked him too, he just got better and better. He started his career in Kaiserslautern and just went on up from there, an inspirational career.

Otto’s achievements speak for themselves, European Champion, Meister and European Cup winner with Werder Bremen and much more. He is one of the greats.”

McFadyean: A further player you played with at Kaiserslautern is France legend Youri Djorkaeff. What was special about Youri?

Ziehl: “He was, at this time, totally outstanding, just a perfect player. To see him in Kaiserslautern and train with him was intense. He won the World Cup in 1998. It was incredible to be around such a player in Kaiserslautern.”

McFadyean: The recently deceased Andreas Brehme was your coach at Kaiserslautern, a player who incorporated the values of a great generation of German footballers; discipline, commitment, power, strength, and vision. What was unique about Andy as a footballer and a person? It’s a big loss for German football.

Ziehl: “I actually saw Andy just a year ago, Andy was an outstanding person, such a good player, far too young to pass on for sure.

“The difference with players like Hans-Peter Briegel, Andreas Brehme, Felix Magath, Dietmar Jakobs, or Kalle Rummenigge was that these players had a great mentality, the temperament in the team, we fought and had a great spirit. Andy Brehme was exactly such a player. He fought until the end in every game.”

McFadyean: Some in Germany were unhappy, in spite of the improvements at Euro 2024. What do you think has been missing for the DFB team since 2014?

Ziehl: “It’s normal in some ways that there’s a transition to a new generation of players, but we haven’t seen the same quality. They have many good individual players, but not together for some reason in the last few years.” 

McFadyean: 1998 Otto Rehagel led the Kaiserslautern team direct from the 2. Bundesliga to winning the Bundesliga title. What was so special about that team?

Ziehl: “The year before they were relegated for the first time in the history of this club, but the team stayed together. They made a good start and started winning games, but everyone thought by November and December, it was over. But they kept it up, many wins in extra time, with goals in the 95th or 97th minute, and in the end, they were champions. It was the first time, and I think, it was the last time that a promoted side won the title, probably anywhere in the world.

“Our club is a sleeping giant, every club needs a big investor, and the fans want 2. Bundesliga.”

McFadyean: Saarbrücken has had really difficult times in the last 20 years or so, spending much of the time in the second or third tiers in spite of being the only big club in the region. Would you welcome a system like in England where large investors can buy the club and take it back into the top tier or Europe? Or do you think it’s better to have a member-owned club, like in Germany?

Ziehl: “A mixed system is the right option, every club needs an investor because it doesn’t work without one, but they don’t have to have the majority but it’s very difficult financially without one. In particular, in the third tier, the costs are high, that’s why every club wants to get to the second league because of TV money also, and bigger gates. In general, I am for the 50+1 however.” 

McFadyean: What makes 1. FC Saarbrücken unique as a club?

Ziehl: “It’s a historic club with a big history, the people here really live it, the fans are incredibly passionate. They are great fans. But playing in the fourth league, and now in the third tier, it’s a bit difficult for the region. There is a unique atmosphere here, the club is a real sleeping giant. The fans want more.”

McFadyean: In October 2023, after losing to Rot-Weiss Essen with the side in 15th, you said: “If people are not happy with me I will let someone else take over.” But you are still here in spite of being far off a promotion place. Has the cup saved your season?

Ziehl: “In the league, we have only six losses. That’s pretty good, but we need more wins. The whole season we have had many chances, but we just don’t score enough goals, and that’s why we are in 10th place right now. In the cup games, we defended pretty well and we had only two or three chances but we took them. That’s the big difference. The team showed in every game that we can defend as a team, we can fight as a team, with a great mentality, a great spirit, and I think this is the big difference between the cup games and the league games. We score and we fight harder. The promotion to the 2. Bundesliga is what we want.

“Normally when you play 100 times against Bayern Munich you only win once. We won.” 

McFadyean: Your profile picture shows you in front of the terrace, with the pyros, and the flags and intense fan scene. Talk to me about the feeling when you knocked Bayern München out of the Pokal last season. It must have been mind-blowing?

Ziehl: “Normally, when you play 100 times, you only win one game like that one, and this was the moment to win this game against Bayern München.

“Before the game, everybody was talking about the game like. Hopefully we have a good game against Bayern Munich and lose only three or four zero. After 96 minutes nobody had anything left in the tank, and yet we scored the goal. The whole stadium exploded. Then that goal and the whole stadium, the whole city exploded, a night to remember, yes.” 

McFadyean: Among the leading players in your team is former Bradford City striker Kai Brünker who has scored 12 goals, and scored the winning goal in the quarterfinal against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Could you see yourself one day making your way to an English club or further afield like the MLS?

Ziehl: “Of course managing a club in England is always attractive. You only need to look at the success of Daniel Farke or what Jürgen Klopp did at Liverpool to see what is possible. I am a Manchester City fan and I follow the league there. Who knows what comes in the future? For now, we have the season ahead and promotion is our focus.”

As a professional footballer, Ziehl played in defensive midfield between 1996-2010 with FK Pirmansens, 1 FC Kaiserslautern, Wehen Wiesbaden, Tus Koblenz, and VFL Wolfsburg II, scoring 11 goals. He won the Regionaliga-Nord (fourth tier) title with Wolfsburg II in the 18/19 season.

Born in Zweibrücken, the former midfielder, who also played as a defender, moved to 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 1996, from where he joined SV Wehen Wiesbaden of the Regionalliga-Süd, the fourth-highest league in 2002. In the 2004/5 season, he moved to TuS Koblenz in the same league, remaining until 2009.

For the 2009/10 season, he moved to VfL Wolfsburg II in the fourth tier, where he ended his career in 2011. He played three hundred and twenty-three games, 66 of them in the 2nd Bundesliga, and 3 in the Bundesliga for 1 FC Kaiserslautern.

After earning the UEFA Pro Coaching Badge, he began the 2012/13 season as an assistant to Lorenz-Günther Köstner at VFL Wolfsburg II. Later that season, he took over as head coach and remained with the club until 2020. In the 20/21 season, he took over as head coach at 3. Liga club TSV Havelse where the club finished in eleventh.

Photo: IMAGO / MIS.

After a sixth-placed finish and elimination in the playoff semi-finals last campaign, they begin the season with a new manager, Johannes Hoff Thorup, and fresh hopes of returning to the Premier League after facing relegation in 2022.

Josh Sargent is one player who will play a central role in that possible promotion push. The USMNT forward scored 16 Championship goals last season in just 26 appearances, the most of anyone in Canary yellow.

But with title hopefuls Leeds United reportedly interested in the 24-year-old, he must consider whether Norwich are the club to enable his return to the Premier League. World Soccer Talk spoke to former Norwich defender Felix Passlack to find out.   

Norwich promoted? “They can do it”

In July 2018, Passlack joined The Canaries on a loan move from German giants Borussia Dortmund.

Though he only stayed in Norfolk for one year, playing a minor role in Daniel Farke’s squad as they roared to a Championship title and promotion to the Premier League, Passlack fondly remembers his time at the club.

“Although the season did not go so well for me and I only made few appearances, I got to know very nice people in Norwich, they are very friendly but also respectful.

“I would say what I enjoyed was being part of a great team, Daniel Farke put together a great team and we played well together, I especially valued friends at the club like Grant Hanley.”

Now of Leeds United, Farke returned to haunt Norwich in last season’s playoff semi-finals, presiding over a 4-0 aggregate rout of his former side.

Canaries manager David Wagner was dismissed after the disappointing defeat, paving the way for Thorup to take charge.

Changes at Norwich

It has been a tricky transfer window for the new manager, having to contend with the loss of Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara, who departs for Galatasaray.

There is also the ongoing saga around forward Adam Idah who is linked to Celtic and reported late ahead of a pre-season friendly against Hoffenheim.

Some much-needed positive news comes with the arrival of England Under-21 international Callum Doyle on a season-long loan from Premier League champions Manchester City, and Passlack is backing his former club to enjoy a successful season.

“I would like to see Norwich promoted, they can do it,” he said.

Premier League Past

Norwich last competed in the Premier League during the 2021-2022 season, Sargent’s first at the club after signing from Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.

Though the club finished bottom of the Premier League, the young forward gained valuable experience and showed flashes of his promise, earning 26 appearances and scoring two league goals.

Sargent may seek new pastures as he eyes a return to that level, but Passlack assures that the bond with Norwich teammates and fans will not fade.

Now with VfL Bochum, Passlack has enjoyed reuniting with former Norwich teammates on Bundesliga pitches.

Christoph Zimmerman left Norwich in 2022, joining Darmstadt 98 and helping them secure promotion to the Bundesliga for the 2023/24 season.

They met Passlack’s Bochum twice in last year’s Bundesliga before falling to relegation.

“I keep in touch and it’s always good to see ‘Zimbo’ (Christoph Zimmermann) when we play against Darmstadt 98,” said Passlack, who started in the 2-2 draw at the Ruhrstadion.

Check out our handy guide on how to watch EFL Championship in USA if you want to keep up with all the exciting matches of this season.

Additional reporting by Jonny Coffey

Photo: IMAGO / Focus Images.

Bayern fans were left incredulous at the sight of their idols picking up what they believed to be a long-lost eleventh title in a row on match day 34 after Borussia Dortmund failed to pick up three points at home against fourteenth-placed Mainz 05. This season, however, is looking like it could be different.

The first half of 2023/24, however, has once again been seen as a major challenge at the top, but it is far from Borussia Dortmund, who are still reeling from the loss of midfielder Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid. 

Action from top to bottom

This time around, it’s all about the Bayer Leverkusen side of former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso. But Bayern, who added England midfielder Eric Dier in the January break, will not give up without a fight. As BVB showed in 2019, even a 9-point lead can melt away, and Pokal winners RB Leipzig could also mount an assault.

At the other end of the table, most neutrals are surprised to see Champions League participants, and many neutral fans’ favorite teams, in the relegation zone. Cologne is also taking a big risk by appointing new coach Timo Schultz, who has no prior experience fighting the drop and will need to start scoring if they are going to avoid second-tier football next season.

Borussia Dortmund seem to have been reeling from their last-minute slip-up, but could the ‘Jadon Sancho effect’ see a revitalization of Edin Terzic’s side and a Champions League place? What about the other European places? Which other sides will be stuck in the relegation zone? Let’s look at part two of season 23/24:

The fight for the Meisterschaft; two surprise packages in the first half of the 2023/24 season:

Bayer 04 Leverkusen en route to a first-ever Meisterschaft?

The prospects for Leverkusen going into the season were challenging. However, a year into the tenure of the 114-time Spain international midfielder, Xabi Alonso, as coach, the 1988 UEFA Cup winner, Leverkusen, has been revitalized and is a serious contender for the title in 23/24.

Things seem to be going the way of the Red and Blacks. The signings this season, which include Victor Boniface, Jonas Hofmann, and Álex Grimaldo, have all hit the ground running and slotted right into Alonso’s system. 

Sporting director Simon Rolfes has struck gold with the signing of a natural-born leader and a great fit in the role of playmaker with Granit Xhaka. The all-time leading Swiss record international brings not only his experience and skills but also the form of his career.

The system of the Xabi Alonso team relies on maintaining excellent control of the ball, playing an attractive style of football, switching up the tempo, and putting the opponent under constant pressure. Bayer also possesses one of the most talented attacking midfielders in Europe, Florian Wirtz, who is in high demand from Premier League sides, including Liverpool.

If Alonso can break Bayern’s title run of eleven Meisterschaften, his stay in the Rhineland could, however, be short-lived, with reported interest from clubs including Real Madrid. For now, the Werkself, who has finished second five times, earning themselves the nickname Vizekusen, have their first-ever title in sight. 

Can Thomas Tuchel also ‘earn’ a title with this Bayern Munich side?

Last season was too tight, by far, for most fans of the Rekordmeister. The inconsistent performances of last season, which included a quarterfinal exit in both the Champions League and the DFB Pokal, have continued into the current season.

Bayern have won the title eleven years in a row. The fans are used to success and want to see a return to a real winning routine. Despite strengthening the side, in particular, with center-back Min-Jae Kim from Serie A champions Napoli, they are only partly getting that under former Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel.

In particular, a question mark remains about the number one spot, with Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer having been out long-term with an injury. 

The Reds will have been hugely disappointed to have missed out on Sevilla’s Bono this summer; Sven Ulreich is not a realistic long-term substitute. While in Harry Kane, Tuchel has a player to replace Robert Lewandowski; whether a twelfth title is possible will depend a lot on the availability of captain Neuer. 

This season could see a change of guard at the top.

VFB Stuttgart, an inspiring turnaround that will see a top-four finish:

VfB Stuttgart narrowly missed out on relegation via the play-offs against second-tier Hamburger SV in May, but thanks to some smart transfer business in the summer, including Guinea-international Serhou Guirassy, who hit the back of the net 17 times in the first half of the season, and at a transfer fee of just €6 million, this has to be one of the best deals in the European game this summer.

The quality and confidence among this Stuttgart side are remarkable; the attack is where the exciting stuff happens. Deniz Undav, who is on loan from Brighton Hove & Albion, has contributed 11 goals so far this campaign and is ideally up from the five-time champions. 

Sebastian Hoeness is an innovator who has brought together a talented side, including Angelo Stiller, who has picked up straight where Liverpool-bound Watara Endo left off.

What’s interesting in the defending is the lack of focus on intense pressing; this is a hard team to grind down. Die Schwaben will be in the mix for their first Champions League place since 2009.

RB Leipzig can rightly be counted among the leading Bundesliga clubs.

In the summer, RB Leipzig saw the departures of Christophe Nkunku, Josip Gvardiol, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Konrad Laimer, which would hurt any club. However, the Rote Bullen has once again brought top talent, including Lois Openda, who scored 21 goals last season for Lens, Xavi Simons, Benjamin Sesko, Christoph Baumgartner, and Fábio Carvalho. All of these players have demonstrated a track record of delivering so far. 

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Marco Rose has shown he is not afraid to rotate, which serves the side well. However, RB is a club that has made an incredible ascent since its foundation in 2009. If the side can find more consistency, despite missing out on defending their DFB Pokal title, Leipzig can, as well as reaching the last eight of the Champions League, once again close in on a place in Europe’s elite competition.

Can the ‘Sancho factor’ inspire a Borussia Dortmund revival?

This season, with few exceptions, including a strong Champions League campaign, Edin Terzic’s team is showing a worrying lack of rhythm, bonding, collective and individual form, and flow, and the fifteen-point gap to Bayer Leverkusen is testimony to it. 

It was always going to be a big leap of faith to give the captaincy to Emre Can, but Marco Reus, who will be 35 in May, and even at his peak, the Dortmund-born Germany international was injury-prone, is no longer able to play more than a bit in the side.

The combination of the loss of Jude Bellingham and the limited scope of Marco Reus has left the side without real leadership and creative impulses. In particular, in midfield, there is a disconnect between defense and attack. Felix Nmecha, with a few exceptions, such as in the game against Werder Bremen in October, so far has not looked like having the scope to fill that gap.

While BVB excelled in the Champions League, where they exceeded all expectations and unexpectedly finished first in a tough group that included PSG and Newcastle United, in the league there was little to cheer about. In particular, in the attack, neither Sebastian Haller nor Karim Adeyemi have looked anything like filling the shoes of Erling Haaland, as big shoes as they are. 

There are also issues in defense due to the injuries of Julian Ryerson and German center-back Nico Schlotterbeck. A lot now depends in terms of whether Dortmund can achieve their stated goal of a Champions League place on what impetus the return of the crest-fallen Jadon Sancho and fellow loanee left-back Ian Maatsen can have.

Dortmund have not missed out on a European place, and the club, which, despite the world’s largest gates, does not even nearly match the financial muscle of Bayern Munich, can afford to either. 

Nuri Sahin has been brought in, alongside former defender Sven Bender, to shore up Edin Terzic; a Europa League-place finish could result in the former Turkey international replacing him.

The other contenders for the European spots are:

Among the chasing pack in the hunt for the Europa League and Conference places will, for certain, be Eintracht Frankfurt. Dino Toppmöller has taken over from Oliver Glasner in the hot seat. 

Among the leading players, Evan Ndicka, Djibril Sow, and Daichi Kamada have all left. Midfielder Hugo Larsson and Ecuadorian center-back Willian Pacho have been added. 

Despite the loss of center-forward Kolo Muani, whom Omar Marmoush is so far not yet a valid replacement for, this side has a lot in the tank and can stay the course. 

The Waldstadion remains once again one of the toughest places to pick up points. Eintracht looks good enough for Europe once more.

There are few more respected coaches in the league than SC Freiburg’s Christian Streich. The manager, who is in his twelfth season with Die Breisgauer, has a balanced squad at his disposal and the backing of a sold-out Europa Park Stadion for most games. 

The challenge is scoring more goals; the addition of Junior Adamu from RB Salzburg has so far failed to ignite. Relying on Enzo Grifo alone is risky. The Black and Whites have struggled in 23/24 with the added pressure of European competition, but with only the league to concentrate on, Freiburg will qualify for a European place.

Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, who replaced Andre Breitenreiter as Hoffenheim coach, is so far struggling to persuade the doubters that he can take the ‘Blue & Whites’ to the next level. Centre-back Attila Szalai, who is one of the pillars of the renewed Hungary side, has looked like a good signing, however, the side is struggling to replace the talismanic Israeli-Arab striker Munas Dabbur, as well as midfield leader Christoph Baumgartner. 

The ‘Blue and Whites’ are also conceding too many goals. The US-born coach and his innovative tactics are proving the side’s key asset; the side’s unpredictability is also its strength. Pellegrino is getting the most out of the Hoffenheim team and it may be enough for the Conference place. 

The disappointments of the first half of the season:

Wolfsburg had a better second half of the first part of the season, but they are inconsistent and underperforming. This season, they have added Danish left-back Joakim Maehle, who has been one of the leading players at the impressive Atalanta Bergamo in Serie A. 

He is joined by former Ajax player Vaclav Cerny, who is a versatile reinforcement who can play on both wings. It remains to be seen which Wolfsburg we will see going into the second half of the season. Wolfsburg may well slip up and it could cost Nico Kovac his position.

Borussia Moenchengladbach have conceded 35 goals and are going through a season of change. Gerardo Seoane is one of the best coaches in the Bundesliga, and ‘Die Fohlenelf’ has done very well to secure his services. 

There is more at the heart of the ongoing crisis at the club than changing coaches, however. Four of the best performers—Jonas Hofmann, Lars Stindl, Ramy Bensebaini, and Marcus Thuram—have been sold. There have not been sufficient investments in the side to take the club any further ahead of where they were in 22/23.

Many neutral fans will be disappointed to find Union Berlin, a team from the eastern side of Berlin that has caught the minds and hearts of football fans from across the world in recent seasons, in the bottom part of the table. 

The challenge of a Champions League group with Real Madrid and Napoli, in addition to the league and Cup, has simply proven too much. 

After five successful years under Swiss coach Urs Fischer, the slump has seen him replaced by Croatian coach Nenad Bjelica from Turkish side Trabzonspor. Apart from two seasons with 1 FC Kaiserslautern, the former midfielder is an unknown in the Bundesliga; little more than survival can be expected from ‘Eisern Union’.

The relegation candidates:

VfL Bochum impressed in 22/23, and during this transfer window, they have done an almost complete switch-up of the squad. The side is an experimental one; coach Thomas Letsch took Vitesse Arnhem to the final of the Dutch Cup and a European place in 21/22, and he is building a solid, functional team.

Despite the solid form in the first half just a couple of injuries across key positions however would see Bochum knocked back, whether they are too good for the second tier remains to be seen.

Another team that had not been expected to be in the battle against the drop is 1. FC Köln’s eleventh-place finish in 22/23 was respectable, but the dropdown to the penultimate spot and the dismal string of results this season, which has seen only two wins and the second-highest number of goals conceded, were enough to see fan-favorite Steffen Baumgart replaced by former FC Basel coach Timo Schultz. 

Based on the quality of the side, including one of Germany’s most promising young defenders, Noah Katterbach, the Billygoats on paper have enough to fight their way out of relegation. 

However, a lot depends on the form of Wolfsburg loanee Luca Waldschmidt and former Dortmund striker Steffen Tigges. On current form, the two-time champions look like relegation candidates.

Darmstadt 98 invested just €3 million in the side that got promoted from the second tier. In particular, the failure to replace lead scorer Philip Tietz, who left for Augsburg in the summer, has left the side without firepower. 

The injury to former Norwich City center-back Christoph Zimmermann has also left the defense hobbled, and ‘Die Lillien’ has conceded 41 goals already. 

Unless there is a drastic improvement, Torsten Lieberknecht’s side looks like certain relegation candidates, and they have a lack of investment in the squad to blame.

Overall prediction: 

This season will see a change at the top, with Bayer 04 Leverkusen winning their first-ever title. Borussia Dortmund will miss out on a Champions League spot, but not by much. 

FC Cologne and Darmstadt 98 are going down, Heidenheim and Mainz 05 have too much to offer, and VFL Bochum will have to fight it out in the play-off.

Lots to look forward to, it’s all change in the Bundesliga.

Photos: Imago.