WERDER.DE: Frank Baumann was the person who accompanied you at your medical. He’s been with you since day one, right?
Zlatko Junuzovic: “Not only that, I was on my own. My girlfriend and father were back in Vienna and I had to manage alone. During the first few days, he helped me to organise everything – he even helped me find a place to live. His calming manner helped me a lot, it was ideal. I always followed the Bundesliga so I obviously knew him as a player, as the captain of Werder. It really was an honour for me and something special, and it still is today.”
WERDER.DE: His role at the club has changed over the years…
Zlatko Junuzovic: “He’s a real character, he has always been. But of course, after ending his career as such an important figure, he’s had to work himself into his new job. I think it’s a huge challenge, taking on new functions, having a new kind of responsibility towards the players and the club, not working on the pitch but off it. It’s an art to be able to stay true to yourself, keep the calm, and not lose his anything about your character – he does it very well. It’s very good to have people you can trust like him.
WERDER.DE: You were 17 years old when you made your debut in the Austrian Bundesliga but it was not until seven years later that you made your first appearance in the German top flight. That’s relatively late, isn’t it?
Zlatko Junuzovic: “Nowadays yes!” At the time it was more than OK (laughs). Now you are already playing with the experienced players at that age. When I made my debut at Graz, there were maybe two or three players under 30 but the rest were significantly older. It’s crazy how much that has changed. I’ve experienced a lot of changes in my career already. I can’t tell you how many people and different nationalities I have got to know in my twelve years as a professional. I’m very happy that I have been able to follow this path and been able to avoid any major injuries. Overall I’ve made 360 appearances in the top flight. I’m really proud of that.”
WERDER.DE: Since you signed for the club, Werder has changed a lot. How difficult has that been?
Zlatko Junuzovic: “When I came here, there were still a lot of established players in the team but there was a complete upheaval of the squad after half a year when 13 or 14 players left. That was unbelievable and that is when it really begun. There has often been discontent over the last five years due to our position in the table but a big sense of unity has always prevailed in the team. That says a lot about this club, our outstanding fans and the family atmosphere among the employees at the club. There has always been an overwhelming sense of trust between us and always a positive mindset. That is very important for us as players. I have experienced so many wonderful but also difficult moments in these last five years. I wouldn’t have wanted to have missed any of it. Even when it has been really difficult, I’ve taken so much experience from it for the future and I think about the great moments non-stop (laughs).”