He is one of Werder’s longest serving players, their captain and a fans favourite: Zlatko Junuzovic. In summer, the 30-year-old Austrian will leave Werder to seek a new challenge. After six and a half years in a Green-White shirt, there are a number of moments that the Austria looks back on fondly. We spoke to Junuzovic about togetherness, special moments, the fans and the future.
WERDER.de: After six and a half years, you’ve decided to leave Werder. How are you feeling?
Zlatko Junuzovic: “Very mixed feelings. You could say I’m upset to leave the club but am looking forward to a new challenge and new surroundings. At the moment, it’s tough to get my head around everything. When I look back and reflect at everything that I’ve been through and consider everything we’ve achieved together in the past few years, I’ll always have happy memories here.”
WERDER.DE: You’ve become captain here and have become a favourite of the fans. What made you decide that the time was right to leave?
Zlatko Junuzovic: “First of all, I have to emphasise it’s an honour for me to have been a part and a captain of Werder Bremen. When I arrived in Bremen, I realised straight away how special it is here and how much the city gets behind the club and the support they generate. I’m very grateful to the fans and the people here. I’ll miss them a lot. At the same time, I’ll take my positive memories here with me in later life. I’ll always be glad and proud to have worn the Werder shirt. Now, the time has come to go. There are times in life where you have to make a decision and I realised I had the opportunity to try something new.”
WERDER.DE: Where will you go from here?
Zlatko Junuzovic: “It’ll be a surprise and I don’t want to give too much away right now. I have chosen this time to share my decision as it provides everyone with clarity and so the club can plan for the future. I think the fans deserve clarity and honesty. At the moment, the focus should be on the end of the season not whether or not I will stay. I wanted to clear the air and make it public that I’ll leave the club in the future.”
WERDER.DE: You’ve made almost 200 appearances for the club. What’s the first thing that springs to mind when you look back at your time here?
Zlatko Junuzovic: "It’s hard to say as there are so many moments that I hold dear to me. There’s a story to almost every moment and feeling. We’ve got through tough obstacles together to become more and more solid. If I have to pick out one moment in particular, it’d be the game against Frankfurt on the final day of the 2015/16 season. It was make or break. On the day, we went from despair to delight. The fans’ support with the #GreenWhiteWonderwall was phenomenal. It was one of the most emotional moments of my life on a football pitch. I know how much survival means for the city, the fans and the club. I knew we had to win. There was no other choice. To be able to do it was an indescribable feeling."
WERDER.DE: You can add a few other moments to that too: your winner in the 100th Nordderby, the #JunoBleibtBremer or even your first Bundesliga goal…
Zlatko Junuzovic: "It’s true. There are several moments but that win gave us all an amazing feeling. The other ones were more personal achievements which were great of course for me but that game was amazing for the team and the club as a whole."
Werder will always be a part of my lifeZlatko Junuzovic
WERDER.DE: You’ve played here since January 2012. What’s changed since then?
Zlatko Junuzovic: "It’s hard to say. Often we’ve come unstuck in the first half of the season and improved after the turn of the year. We’ve usually started the season stronger and you always feel that next year we’d get off to a better start but it never worked out that way. We’ve always had to come back from tough times – that hasn’t changed."
WERDER.DE: It’s true though…
Zlatko Junuzovic: “I think the support that you get here is sensational. I’ve always said that to my friends and on national team duty. The relationship between the fans and the club is so special. That’s something that’s never changed. I’ve received support since day one and I hope that never changes at this club. The togetherness between the team and the fans is extremely important and helps the team through everything.”
WERDER.DE: Togetherness is a good way of putting it. How will you remember the Werder fans?
Zlatko Junuzovic: "As I’ve said, their support has always been exceptional. I feel at home talking to the fans as I’ve been part of the team council for some time now. Even in the most perilous of situations, the fans have stuck with us – no ifs or buts. I’ve never experienced support like that before. As a player, you can’t support that enough. I have so many good memories, especially in games at the Weser-Stadion. No one can take those away from me. If I come back sometime to watch a game, these memories will come flooding back and I’ll have only positive things to say about this club. I’ll never forget the fans, the club or the city in my life. Werder will always be a part of my life. My whole family will keep Bremen with us."
WERDER.DE: There are still three key games to go before the end of the season. What are you expecting from these games?
Zlatko Junuzovic: "Even though my exit is confirmed, I’m really looking forward to these games - especially the ones at home. I’ve had so many experiences here and am emotionally attached to this place. I can’t promise I’ll play my best football but I’ll try to give my very best and relish every moment. I want to give something back to every single fan that has supported me in the past six and a half years. I have a very close relationship with the fans so I’ll give my all out on the pitch no matter what. My future won’t impact what needs to be done right now. I’m here. I’ll work hard and want to enjoy the rest of my time and have an enjoyable end to my time here.”
WERDER.DE: Your last game in the Weser-Stadion will be in two weeks in Leverkusen. Will it be an emotional day for you?
Zlatko Junuzovic: "First of all, I’m looking forward to it. First of all, we face Dortmund. I’m excited for that too as I think it will be a good game. Then, it’s Leverkusen for my final home game. To be honest, I don’t want to think about it too much as I won’t be able to sleep. I hope the speculation and the reports die down in the next few days.”
WERDER.DE: Do you have anything else to say to the fans?
Zlatko Junuzovic: “Thank you for an amazing time! It’s an emotional day for me as my goodbye is getting closer and closer. I have so many images of goals, success and moments going through my head. Also, I have to thank my colleagues. Everyone who I’ve got to know here is part of my life and they’ve all made me who I am today. I’ve learnt a lot from them and have a lot to thank them for!"
Watch all Junuzovic's goals here!
