It’s been an exciting month for TSG Hoffenheim’s Nadiem Amiri. In February the 18 year old made his Bundesliga debut against VfL Wolfsburg, playing the full 90 minutes. Since then the midfielder has also featured against VfB Stuttgart and FC Schalke 04 and now he will carry this valuable experience into the European Championship qualifiers with the U19 national side. Marcus Sorg’s Germany side will play Slovakia (26th March), Ireland (28th March) and the Czech Republic (31st March) in their quest for qualification to the summers finals in Greece.
In an exclusive interview with DFB.de, Nadiem Amiri discusses the upcoming qualifiers, his first experience in the Bundesliga and his journey to becoming a pro.
DFB.de: Mr Amiri, the second round of the European Championships qualifiers is about to commence. What are objectives going into these important games?
Amiri: We want to reach the finals. A tournament like this will be huge for every player. The best teams will play against each other. To take part in such an event would definitely be good for confidence.
DFB.de: Your predecessors won the competition last year…
Amiri: …of course I followed that and it gives us extra motivation. We want to defend the title.
DFB.de: In the first round of qualifiers you won the first two games against Kazakhstan and Latvia. How disappointing was it to then lost 5-1 against Austria?
Amiri: There are games when things don’t go your way. Unfortunately that was the case against Austria. We didn’t play as a team. Everyone played for themselves. We also weren’t winning our individual battles. On top of that, Austria were very effective and they took their chances very well. They were much stronger opponents than Kazakhstan and Latvia.
DFB.de: How much of a strain will it be physically to play three games in six days?
Amiri: It’s very exhausting, mentally as well as physically. But we have good physiotherapists and everyone in the team knows how to take care of themselves before and after the game. Because of that we’ll manage.
DFB.de: How have your experiences with the U18 and now U19 national team helped your development as a footballer?
Amiri: The experiences have helped me greatly. International football is completely different to the A-Junior-Bundesliga. It’s a lot harder. It’s even harder when you then play in the Bundesliga.
DFB.de: In the U18s you had Christian Ziege as your manager, now its Marcus Sorg. Has the playing style changed much from the U18s to u19s?
Amiri: Definitely. We’re always pressing from the front and we switch the ball quickly. It was different with Christian Ziege. In terms of character they are very similar though.
DFB.de: Meaning?
Amiri: They’re buddies, but have different approaches to the game.
DFB.de: Let’s talk about the Bundesliga. On matchday 20 you made your debut against VfL Wolfsburg and you played the whole 90 minutes. Then in the next game you were in the starting XI against VfB Stuttgart. Were you a little surprised by the faith shown in you by manager Markus Gisdol?
Amiri: In actual fact I wasn’t. When I found out that I was going to start, just an hour before the match was going to start, I couldn’t believe it. But when you get on the pitch you forget all that and just want to give everything.
DFB.de: How impressive is it for a Bundesliga debutant to play in a full stadium?
Amiri: It just means extra motivation. Though for me it wasn’t a completely new experience. When we won the German championship with the A-Youth team, we played in front of a large crowd.
DFB.de: Playing in the Bundesliga is one thing, but the football and physical demands are another. You’ve been training with the first team for about a year now. What is the greatest challenge facing a talented youth player hoping to break into the first team?
Amiri: At first I didn’t find it too difficult, but after two or three months I began to struggle physically. My body needed to get used to the extra workload.
DFB.de: Your agent is Dr. Michael Becker, who used to represent Michael Ballack. How did that come about?
Amiri: He first contacted me when I played for the U17s. He was the first to approach me. It’s important that I get on with my agent. We catch up once or twice a week to discuss how things are going at Hoffenheim.
DFB.de: Before you switched to Hoffenheim’s youth team, you played for 1. FC Kaiserslautern juniors. Why did things not develop there?
Amiri: I was dropped from Kaiserslautern. The manager didn’t want me in his plans. It was hard for me. All together I played for Kaiserslautern for five years. That said, now its motivation for me to show them what I can do. Anyway, I think patience is key when you want to make it as a professional footballer. You shouldn’t expect to be the best straight away and to play every game. You just need to be ready when your chance comes.
DFB.de: For you this came in 2012, when TSG Hoffenheim signed you.
Amiri: Exactly. Alexander Rosen and U17 manager Jens Rasiejewski noticed me at the Baden trials. Of course there was a bit of luck involved too.
DFB.de: Last question: Young footballers often have a role model. Who is yours?
Amiri: My role model is Luiz Gustavo, who used to play for Hoffenheim. He’s a very strong midfielder, who is great on the ball. I think we’re a similar type of player.
created by mmc/jm
It’s been an exciting month for TSG Hoffenheim’s Nadiem Amiri. In February the 18 year old made his Bundesliga debut against VfL Wolfsburg, playing the full 90 minutes. Since then the midfielder has also featured against VfB Stuttgart and FC Schalke 04 and now he will carry this valuable experience into the European Championship qualifiers with the U19 national side. Marcus Sorg’s Germany side will play Slovakia (26th March), Ireland (28th March) and the Czech Republic (31st March) in their quest for qualification to the summers finals in Greece.
In an exclusive interview with DFB.de, Nadiem Amiri discusses the upcoming qualifiers, his first experience in the Bundesliga and his journey to becoming a pro.
DFB.de: Mr Amiri, the second round of the European Championships qualifiers is about to commence. What are objectives going into these important games?
Amiri: We want to reach the finals. A tournament like this will be huge for every player. The best teams will play against each other. To take part in such an event would definitely be good for confidence.
DFB.de: Your predecessors won the competition last year…
Amiri: …of course I followed that and it gives us extra motivation. We want to defend the title.
DFB.de: In the first round of qualifiers you won the first two games against Kazakhstan and Latvia. How disappointing was it to then lost 5-1 against Austria?
Amiri: There are games when things don’t go your way. Unfortunately that was the case against Austria. We didn’t play as a team. Everyone played for themselves. We also weren’t winning our individual battles. On top of that, Austria were very effective and they took their chances very well. They were much stronger opponents than Kazakhstan and Latvia.
DFB.de: How much of a strain will it be physically to play three games in six days?
Amiri: It’s very exhausting, mentally as well as physically. But we have good physiotherapists and everyone in the team knows how to take care of themselves before and after the game. Because of that we’ll manage.
DFB.de: How have your experiences with the U18 and now U19 national team helped your development as a footballer?
Amiri: The experiences have helped me greatly. International football is completely different to the A-Junior-Bundesliga. It’s a lot harder. It’s even harder when you then play in the Bundesliga.
DFB.de: In the U18s you had Christian Ziege as your manager, now its Marcus Sorg. Has the playing style changed much from the U18s to u19s?
Amiri: Definitely. We’re always pressing from the front and we switch the ball quickly. It was different with Christian Ziege. In terms of character they are very similar though.
DFB.de: Meaning?
Amiri: They’re buddies, but have different approaches to the game.
DFB.de: Let’s talk about the Bundesliga. On matchday 20 you made your debut against VfL Wolfsburg and you played the whole 90 minutes. Then in the next game you were in the starting XI against VfB Stuttgart. Were you a little surprised by the faith shown in you by manager Markus Gisdol?
Amiri: In actual fact I wasn’t. When I found out that I was going to start, just an hour before the match was going to start, I couldn’t believe it. But when you get on the pitch you forget all that and just want to give everything.
DFB.de: How impressive is it for a Bundesliga debutant to play in a full stadium?
Amiri: It just means extra motivation. Though for me it wasn’t a completely new experience. When we won the German championship with the A-Youth team, we played in front of a large crowd.
DFB.de: Playing in the Bundesliga is one thing, but the football and physical demands are another. You’ve been training with the first team for about a year now. What is the greatest challenge facing a talented youth player hoping to break into the first team?
Amiri: At first I didn’t find it too difficult, but after two or three months I began to struggle physically. My body needed to get used to the extra workload.
DFB.de: Your agent is Dr. Michael Becker, who used to represent Michael Ballack. How did that come about?
Amiri: He first contacted me when I played for the U17s. He was the first to approach me. It’s important that I get on with my agent. We catch up once or twice a week to discuss how things are going at Hoffenheim.
DFB.de: Before you switched to Hoffenheim’s youth team, you played for 1. FC Kaiserslautern juniors. Why did things not develop there?
Amiri: I was dropped from Kaiserslautern. The manager didn’t want me in his plans. It was hard for me. All together I played for Kaiserslautern for five years. That said, now its motivation for me to show them what I can do. Anyway, I think patience is key when you want to make it as a professional footballer. You shouldn’t expect to be the best straight away and to play every game. You just need to be ready when your chance comes.
DFB.de: For you this came in 2012, when TSG Hoffenheim signed you.
Amiri: Exactly. Alexander Rosen and U17 manager Jens Rasiejewski noticed me at the Baden trials. Of course there was a bit of luck involved too.
DFB.de: Last question: Young footballers often have a role model. Who is yours?
Amiri: My role model is Luiz Gustavo, who used to play for Hoffenheim. He’s a very strong midfielder, who is great on the ball. I think we’re a similar type of player.
