“It’s easy to feel at home at Werder”

Jens Stage has become a real pillar at SV Werder Bremen over the past few years. The Dane is no longer tasked with just his regular midfield duties but has evolved into both a goalscorer and a leader. We spoke to the 29-year-old about his partnership with Senne Lynen, his role as vice-captain and why his biggest highlight of 2026 has nothing to do with football.

WERDER.DE: Moin, Jens. You ended 2025 as Werder’s top scorer, with your goal threat being a huge quality you’ve added to your game over the past few years. How has this come about?

Jens Stage: It’s to do with a lot of things, such as my positioning, getting into the box and the person delivering the cross. We’ve had lots of good players here over the past few years and it’s the case that sometimes I score or sometimes it’s someone else. I’m obviously delighted to be scoring, but it’s not the most important thing for me. What matters more is how I help the team in my role in midfield. I want to be the sort of player about whom my teammates say: “He always gives his all”.

WERDER.DE: The decision to use your quality as someone making runs into dangerous areas is obviously deliberate. Is that a freedom you’ve been given?

Jens Stage: Yes, it is. In most games I have the freedom to get into the box. I’ve played with Senne quite a lot recently, and our jobs are well distributed. That means I often get given that freedom by the coach and I can then do what I enjoy, which is getting myself into the box.

WERDER.DE: You already mentioned Senne Lynen. You’ve formed a reliable midfield duo with him over the past few years. What’s your understanding of each other like?

Jens Stage: We have a similar mentality and think about football in similar ways. There’s rarely a time where we have different ideas. He’s also a good friend of mine, so we’ve spent a lot of time together, not just on the pitch but in the dressing room as well. We know each other very well, which means we don’t need to talk much when we’re playing.

WERDER.DE: You were made vice-captain in the summer. Has that changed your day-to-day work at all?

Jens Stage: No, not really. We had a lot of new players join in the summer, while others left. I’ve been here three and a half years now and have a lot of games under my belt, so I automatically take on more responsibilities, whether I’m vice-captain or not. I want to help the new players and I like the job of forming a new, strong group.

WERDER.DE: You’re only three games away from Werder becoming the club you’ve played for the most. What does that mean to you?

Jens Stage: I feel very much at home here and only have positive things to say. I’ve had a really great time so far and my family is also very happy. I like the atmosphere at the club – the staff, coaches, players and the fans are all brilliant. That makes it easy for me to feel at home at Werder and really identify with the club. I couldn’t say anything bad even if I tried.

WERDER.DE: Let’s stay positive then. What’s been your standout moment of 2025?

Jens Stage: I don’t really have one specific moment. At the beginning of pre-season, I was injured, which was a difficult time because there was no clear date for when I’d be back. In a new season with a new coach, all you want is to play and help the team, which made things frustrating. It was so nice to be back on the pitch and play a really good game in the 4-0 win over Gladbach.

“In a new season with a new coach, all you want is to play and help the team, which made things frustrating”

WERDER.DE: We’re all delighted you’re fit again. Let’s look ahead to the new year. Have you got a resolution?

Jens Stage: No, I’m not a fan of setting goals for an entire year. My goal is always just to win the next game. I don’t set targets like get a certain number of points or score a specific number of goals. I go into every game giving it everything I have and that will continue until the day I stop playing football. We’ve already shown what we’re capable of, but there are still areas to improve. That’s why I’ve headed into the winter break with confidence, but also some self-reflection.

WERDER.DE: You often get asked about the Denmark national side. How strong is your ambition to get back there?

Jens Stage: Everyone wants to play for their national team. The only way to get there is by playing better with your club. That’s the only thing I can do, and I can only do that by putting in better performances.

WERDER.DE: We’re keeping our fingers crossed. Is there anything else you’re looking forward to in 2026?

Jens Stage: Yes, my wife is pregnant. That’s my top priority. We’re looking forward to welcoming a little sister for Carl. That’s right at the top of my wish list.

WERDER.DE: Congratulations to you and your family, and we wish you all the best and good health. Thank you very much for speaking to us, Jens!