His last appearance in front of the crowd at the Weser-Stadion got under his skin so much that he had to hold back the tears. Saying goodbye to Clemens Fritz was certainly an emotional affair – both for the former player and for SV Werder Bremen.
His last appearance in front of the crowd at the Weser-Stadion got under his skin so much that he had to hold back the tears. Saying goodbye to Clemens Fritz was certainly an emotional affair – both for the former player and for SV Werder Bremen.
If we look at Clemens Fritz’s year chronologically, it goes a little bit like this: Captain and player for SV Werder Bremen, surgical patient, rehabilitation patient, former player, honorary captain, first-time father and husband, hopeful manager – and yes, still a rehabilitation patient. We can only wait and see what the future holds.
And of course, he was not able to still around to talk to Werder.de for long because he was late for his rehabilitation appointment. “I have to be on time,” he said.
It has now been over nine months since he tore the syndesmosis ligament in his right ankle in the match against Darmstadt. He still has not recovered from this injury that ended his career.
The football platform transfermarket.de calculated that he played around 45,000 minutes as a professional footballer. You have to give Fritz praise for such a long career that was so successful on the whole.
So, Clemens, which of your teammates were particularly important for you in your career?
“Definitely Bernd Schneider from my time at Leverkusen. He made me feel unbelievably confident in myself. We played together on the right wing. But I also cannot forget to talk about Diego from my time here in Bremen. He had such quality and was able to completely change games.”
I think Oliver Kahn does a great job.Clemens Fritz
What opponent impressed you the most?
“Of course, there were players like Ronaldinho or Ribéry who were unbelievably difficult to play against, but that helped me to improve myself as a player. Every player strives to be as good as the very best.”
Which manager helped you the most?
“Thomas Schaaf always pushed me to play at my best. For example, I found things difficult after the 2008 European Championships but he always put his trust in me and I just felt so well playing under him.”
A professional career over almost two decades sees a lot of changes. The transfer fees have multiplied, the coverage is digital, football has become a globalized sport. What does that do to the fans, the players and the game? What has changed in the years you have spent as a professional footballer?
“I have to say that technology has really changed the game. There was no such thing as Instagram when I played for Leverkusen, but nowadays players build themselves up as a brand over these channels. Then the cell phone cameras: Everyone has one nowadays and they all want a picture alongside their autograph and for players to send a birthday wish to someone. It makes everything more complicated. You go to the training ground and three people are there asking you, can you send a birthday greeting to my girlfriend, can you send a wedding greeting to a couple I know? There is nothing we can do to change the way things are going”
Because at the end of the day, behind all that is just a game involving 22 people and a ball…
“But that is what makes football so special. It is really amazing to think that this simple game has the power to bring so many people and cultures together. Football connects people and builds communication no matter where you are. I used to holiday in Vietnam and I was approached by a group of people on a small beach on Halong Bay who asked me if I wanted to play football with them. They had no idea who I was and I do not know how many different nationalities of people were there. No one spoke the same language as each other but we still managed to play football together. The great thing about football is: all you need is a ball.
What are you most looking forward to about retiring from professional football?
“The thing I am looking forward to the most is spending time with my wife and daughter. Also, I love that I am able to be spontaneous now. When I was playing professional football in Bremen, I was rarely able to take time off to go and visit my mother for her birthday. I have given up time for football since I was seven years old.”
You will start training in management at Werder Bremen in 2018. Did you ever have a plan B in case football did not work out for you?
“No, not really. I had the opportunity to start working in a bank in Erfurt but obviously, I ended up taking the football route. I did complete a degree course in sport management whilst I was playing football though.
You will need that soon when you are fit again and start working in management.
“Yes. I cannot wait to get back to full fitness. At the moment, I cannot do any proper sport, I can only cycle and do a bit of upper body training. I miss sport a lot. I have spent my whole life playing football and it is so difficult to have that taken away from you.”
And then he remembers his rehabilitation appointment and suddenly Fritz has to rush off. No one would deny that Werder said goodbye to one of the club’s best players in history in the summer of 2017, but he will be back as early as next year.
