Firsts, premieres and debuts – even Germany internationals and World Champions started small. How? Where? When Why? Their first coach, their first position, their first goal, their first title – every day over the next week or so, a DFB-Team player will name their top ten personal firsts here on DFB.de. Getting us under way in 2015 is André Schürrle.
My first kit: It was an Ajax jersey. I was five years old and bugged my dad for ages until I got it. It even came with shorts and socks. Ajax had just won the Champions League at the time and played brilliant football. The first one with a player’s name on the back was Ratinho – the ‘Magic Mouse’ from 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
My first club: I began with Ludwigshafener SC. It was a club close to my parents’ house with a great youth system. The year was 1996. I was five and started with the ‘Bambini’ and played at LSC for ten years in total before I moved to Mainz. I have many fond memories of that time.
My first coach: Udo Zahn and Harald Hammer. They were great coaches, who made it a lot of fun and helped us take those first steps as players. I still get in touch with the lads from my time there now and again these days.
My first game: It was a long time ago. I can’t remember anymore who it was against. But we definitely won and I played up front at the time.
My first role model: From my early kindergarten days it was players like Raúl – so the kind of players that didn’t just play well, but worked hard too and slaved away. That always impressed me.
My first title: The first title that I consider a proper one was the District Championship with the D youth side. I can still remember it because I did a great celebration at the end. We were quite successful in the youth team and won a fair few tournaments.
My first trip to a stadium: It was in Kaiserslautern but I can’t remember the opponents. I can still remember the UEFA Cup match against Rangers though when Miro Klose scored the opener. I then went on to play with him in the national side!
My first Bundesliga game: 8th August 2009, Bruchwegstadion, Mainz 05 against Bayer Leverkusen, 2-2. I had just come from the youth team and was involved right at the start of the season. How can you forget something that good?
My first professional goal: When it came, I ended up being two in one game. We won 3-2 in Bochum in Mainz. It was my sixth Bundesliga match. It was a great feeling.
My first international: It was in Göteborg against Sweden on 17th November 2010. I was subbed on in the 78th minute for my fellow Mainz teammate at the time Lewis Holtby. It was really cold on that day and the game finished 0-0.
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Firsts, premieres and debuts – even Germany internationals and World Champions started small. How? Where? When Why? Their first coach, their first position, their first goal, their first title – every day over the next week or so, a DFB-Team player will name their top ten personal firsts here on DFB.de. Getting us under way in 2015 is André Schürrle.
My first kit: It was an Ajax jersey. I was five years old and bugged my dad for ages until I got it. It even came with shorts and socks. Ajax had just won the Champions League at the time and played brilliant football. The first one with a player’s name on the back was Ratinho – the ‘Magic Mouse’ from 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
My first club: I began with Ludwigshafener SC. It was a club close to my parents’ house with a great youth system. The year was 1996. I was five and started with the ‘Bambini’ and played at LSC for ten years in total before I moved to Mainz. I have many fond memories of that time.
My first coach: Udo Zahn and Harald Hammer. They were great coaches, who made it a lot of fun and helped us take those first steps as players. I still get in touch with the lads from my time there now and again these days.
My first game: It was a long time ago. I can’t remember anymore who it was against. But we definitely won and I played up front at the time.
My first role model: From my early kindergarten days it was players like Raúl – so the kind of players that didn’t just play well, but worked hard too and slaved away. That always impressed me.
My first title: The first title that I consider a proper one was the District Championship with the D youth side. I can still remember it because I did a great celebration at the end. We were quite successful in the youth team and won a fair few tournaments.
My first trip to a stadium: It was in Kaiserslautern but I can’t remember the opponents. I can still remember the UEFA Cup match against Rangers though when Miro Klose scored the opener. I then went on to play with him in the national side!
My first Bundesliga game: 8th August 2009, Bruchwegstadion, Mainz 05 against Bayer Leverkusen, 2-2. I had just come from the youth team and was involved right at the start of the season. How can you forget something that good?
My first professional goal: When it came, I ended up being two in one game. We won 3-2 in Bochum in Mainz. It was my sixth Bundesliga match. It was a great feeling.
My first international: It was in Göteborg against Sweden on 17th November 2010. I was subbed on in the 78th minute for my fellow Mainz teammate at the time Lewis Holtby. It was really cold on that day and the game finished 0-0.
