He’s just finished his first season as a Bundesliga goalkeeper and now he faces the next major challenge of his career. On the 17th June, the Köln keeper will battle for the European Championship in the Czech Republic with the U21s. In an interview with DFB.de, Horn looks back on his first season in the Bundesliga and ahead to the Olympic games in Rio.
DFB.de: Mr. Horn, your first season in the Bundesliga with 1. FC Köln is behind you? How would you sum it up?
Horn: We’re actually all very happy with the season, we exceeded our own expectations. From the beginning it was all about survival, which we ensured early on. On top of that, we frequently caused upsets in the league. We did the double over Schalke, beat Dortmund at home and played a great game against Leverkusen. We conceded few goals and were solid in defence. That ultimately was the key to our survival.
DFB.de: And how about the personal record of Timo Horn, who meanwhile has been dubbed "Clean-sheet Horn” by the Cologne press?
Horn: It’s good enough to keep four clean sheets in a season. To keep 13 in total is very positive for a goal keeper. I think it contributed heavily to us staying in the Bundesliga so I am very happy with my first season. This is reflected in the feedback I’ve had from the club and the DFB.
DFB.de: It’s not easy being a goalkeeper at Köln, because there have been so many legends in this position. There are obvious comparisons to Toni Schumacher and Bodo Illgner. Do you find it difficult to go about your business under these conditions?
Horn: They are both great role models that were world class goalkeepers in their time. I try to learn things by watching them and picking up tips. By I am also trying to do my own thing and leave my own mark. That’s my aim, to continue this goalkeeping tradition at Köln.
DFB.de: Who was your idol growing up?
He’s just finished his first season as a Bundesliga goalkeeper and now he faces the next major challenge of his career. On the 17th June, the Köln keeper will battle for the European Championship in the Czech Republic with the U21s. In an interview with DFB.de, Horn looks back on his first season in the Bundesliga and ahead to the Olympic games in Rio.
DFB.de: Mr. Horn, your first season in the Bundesliga with 1. FC Köln is behind you? How would you sum it up?
Horn: We’re actually all very happy with the season, we exceeded our own expectations. From the beginning it was all about survival, which we ensured early on. On top of that, we frequently caused upsets in the league. We did the double over Schalke, beat Dortmund at home and played a great game against Leverkusen. We conceded few goals and were solid in defence. That ultimately was the key to our survival.
DFB.de: And how about the personal record of Timo Horn, who meanwhile has been dubbed "Clean-sheet Horn” by the Cologne press?
Horn: It’s good enough to keep four clean sheets in a season. To keep 13 in total is very positive for a goal keeper. I think it contributed heavily to us staying in the Bundesliga so I am very happy with my first season. This is reflected in the feedback I’ve had from the club and the DFB.
DFB.de: It’s not easy being a goalkeeper at Köln, because there have been so many legends in this position. There are obvious comparisons to Toni Schumacher and Bodo Illgner. Do you find it difficult to go about your business under these conditions?
Horn: They are both great role models that were world class goalkeepers in their time. I try to learn things by watching them and picking up tips. By I am also trying to do my own thing and leave my own mark. That’s my aim, to continue this goalkeeping tradition at Köln.
DFB.de: Who was your idol growing up?
Horn: It was always Edwin van der Sar. He had this calm, down-to-earth demeanour, he read the game well and was always alert. What really impressed me was when he played almost as a sweeper keeper for Manchester United and from there was able to start each attack. I try to give off the same level of confidence that he did. The first Germany goalkeeper that I took notice of was Andreas Köpke back in 1998 when I was just five years old. After that World Cup I decided that I wanted to play in goal.
DFB.de: When did you start to realise that you could become a professional?
Horn: Some coaches realised early on that I had talent. But a lot needed to happen before I made it. When I was called up to the U15s national team I soon realised I was the best in my age group. When we were relegated from the Bundesliga, the then manager Höger Stanislawski called me to his office and told me: “You are going to be our number one next season”. Then I knew that all my hard work was finally paying off.
DFB.de: Moving onto the national team. How excited are you for the summer’s European Championship in the Czech Republic?
Horn: Very. You don’t often get the chance to play in such a tournament. I was called up at the last minute for the U21s Euros in 2013, as Kevin Trapp had broken his hand. Unfortunately we were knocked out in the group stage back then. This time we want to do better. We have a good team and are in a good group. We can go very, very far. Our goal is obviously to bring the title back to Germany.
DFB.de: The German U21s have a problem that many other nations are envious of – a real luxury problem in goal. With Marc-André ter Stegen, Bernd Leno and you, Horst Hrubesch has three fully established goalkeepers at his disposal. Does this competition give you additional motivation?
Horn: No other U21s team has this situation. Marc-André won the treble with Barcelona in his first season and Bernd has been playing on an international stage for a few years now. Each of us would probably be in the senior team now if we played for any other country. I want to give my all for the team and make sure that we all have good chemistry on and off the pitch. That’s very important, as we have seen in the senior team. And if I play, I will give my best.
DFB.de: Do you envy ter Stegen and Leno because they have played in the Champions League?
Horn: It’s obviously my goal, long term, to play in Europe. In Köln we have had other aims in recent years. We wanted to get promotion and then to re-establish ourselves in the Bundesliga. Eventually I want to walk out to that famous anthem. At least now I have the opportunity to carry on playing in the Bundesliga every week. To prove myself against the likes of Bayern, Wolfsburg and Dortmund, against world-class players, is always good.
DFB.de: You’ve already mentioned that your goal is to win the EUROs in the Czech Republic?
Horn: We will definitely get out the group; we’re strong enough for that. We will have to wait and see what the semifinal will bring. We have a very, very good chance of going far in this tournament.
DFB.de: The competition in the Czech Republic isn’t just about the European Championship, but also qualification for next summer’s Olympics.
Horn: The Olympics is a huge goal for all the players and coaches. The manager fires us up; he wants us to be at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, without fail. The last time a German team played at the Olympics was over 20 years ago. You don’t often get the chance to take part. If we win the competition we will automatically qualify, that will be good.
