Cult goalkeeper in an interview
© Imago
Martin Pieckenhagen is undoubtedly part of the cult keeper of the 90s category. The 53-year-old now played over 200 Bundesliga games for Hamburger SV and Hansa Rostock. Transfer market hit the ex-goalkeeper, which was recently active as a board member at the Kogge, for a conversation over earlier times, the current type debate, his live call in the “double pass” and a look into the future.
The terms patience and happiness play an important role for Pieckenhagen when he looks back on his active career. Although he signed his first professional contract at the 1st FC Union Berlin at the age of 18, it took six more years and the detour over two intermediate stations until he was allowed to celebrate his breakthrough at Hansa Rostock.
“As a keeper you need a certain frustration tolerance and at the same time the ambition always want to stay tuned. It may have to be waiting for your chance for years. Therefore, you have to have an incredible mental strength because you have to be from 0 to 100 in a relatively short time. In general, you are always under power as a goalkeeper, have to be on my mind for over 90 minutes and must not be distracted from anything. Exercise, ”says Pieckenhagen.
When he moved to Hansa Rostock at the 1996/97 season, it was by no means foreseeable that the cog should develop into an absolute matter close to the heart for the Berlin native – Pieckenhagen first had to prove patience in the far north. In the course of the 1997/98 season, he took over the role as number 1 and did not give this position over years. Memories of that time are like the trip to another world for the Bundesliga routine today.
“Many things are unthinkable today. For example, that the cabin was smoked and that the cabin was spartan. My place consisted of a bench that can be found in the gym today, and three hooks for clothing. During my time at Union Berlin, a clothesline was stretched through the cabin and the jerseys were dried there. Bringing with a colorful football.
Over time, the native of Berlin not only developed into a crowd favorite, but also as an absolute top performer in the Rostockers. “I never played football out of the factor of the status, but because of love and passion. Therefore, I was never my priority to become a crowd favorite. That has come with the time. Three attributes were always important to me: honesty, authenticity and down -to -earthness. As a football professional, you have to be aware of the two medal sides. If you are successful, it is part of celebrating with the fans. In Bochum 1999.
Pieckenhagen: “In a way, it was also a driven”
The moment when he saw himself as a seasoned professional was not there. “In a way, I was also a driven person. There was never the moment when I said I was resting now. I was always at speed because I was afraid that my competitor will take away the space. From today’s perspective I might also have an exaggerated attitude. I also played in the event of illness or with injuries. Bite and played together, ”the ex-professional looks back openly.
When asked whether a good goalkeeper has to bring a pinch or a portion of craziness, Pieckenhagen has to smile: “My wife and my friends never recognized me on the pitch. At home I was lovable, crazy on the square. The man with the arrow in your head. As a goalkeeper, you take on a special role that does not allow a mistake. You do not say to your in front: ‘Then you could get short, clear, hard sentences.
The 53-year-old can still remember the most important zero game during his Hansa period: On September 30, 2000, the cogs surprisingly won 1-0 at Bayern Munich, also thanks to the outstanding parades by keeper Pieckenhagen. But it was not only with this one-hit wonder, but also in the second leg, the Rostockers prevailed 3-2 against the German record champions.
“These games were an emotional eye opener for me. After the game we got so many messages in which it was said: We are finally seen and are not only the small Eastern Association. The east-west thinking, the east-west comparisons have disappeared for a moment. The little David beat the big Goliath when I said people: ‘I am overjoyed to work because I am overjoyed because I am overjoyed and You have taken care of this moment of happiness.
Pickenhagen’s Hansa exit: “The HSV was a completely different world”
The 2000/01 season was the season in which Pieckenhagen grew beyond himself and the focus of many Bundesliga clubs. In the end he switched to Hamburger SV. In the first few weeks he found that the clocks there ticked differently in many ways. “The HSV was a completely different world. In Rostock there was still a comparatively romance romance. HSV was about success, the pressure was immense and according to the expectation. Ujfalusi.
He completed 114 games for the red pants and still raved about special moments that he experienced with the fans: “Twice I was allowed to compete against St. Pauli in the derby. From the beginning of the week you noticed that the game was not a normal game. There was really pressure on the boiler. After the derby victory, the night was also made a day and celebrated.” Pieckenhagen was known for his level of leadership and his sense of responsibility, but in retrospect he openly admits that there were moments when he would have liked to show weakness – but it couldn’t.
“A formative moment was my cruciate ligament tear at the time. At first I was sad and the next moment I was happy. I had built up an inner pressure for years, I felt personally responsible for every defeat. I only worked, I just heard on my body, I just pressed me on the gas. had run over red traffic lights, ”says Pieckenhagen. Today’s talents and young professionals he gives advice: “If I would tell the boys, do not put pressure on you, accept the mistakes, pay attention to health, I would not listen to me-if as a young player, I would not have. The questions you have to ask yourself: I am ready to subordinate everything to football and I am ready to pay the price? A not always functioning and intact private life.
Pieckenhagen: Live call in the “double pass” & legendary egg saying
Born in Berlin, he was a goalkeeper that would now be called a “guy” and who did not take a leaf out of his mouth. After a defeat, it once bubbled out of him: “We finally have to get our asses up and show eggs.” A saying that quickly achieved cult status. The keeper also called on the show during the “Doppelpass” live talk when it was critically reported on Hamburger SV. “We were sitting in the massage room at the time when Jörg Wontorra said he sees very clearly that we play against the coach. At first, I said very loudly: ‘He doesn’t tick anymore.’ And in the next moment: ‘I’ll call there now.’ Then I told the experts in the studio my opinion and then it was good, ”recalls the 53-year-old with a laugh.
Pieckenhagen sees as a homemade problem that many interviews sound like now and feels like every X-like football professional: “We keep shouting for guys. These guys still exist in football today, but they know exactly what happens when they open their mouths. Then the next shit storm is waiting for them within five minutes. Context.
Pieckenhagen future: “I would like to start again immediately”
Through the insights into the business with Hansa Rostock (until 2023), he looks at professional football differently today: “I would like to start again when the right project is waiting. The time at Hansa was incredibly cool. I enjoyed it extremely – even if the end was not so nice. In circulation, more money has to be taken out. 22 women or men who want to win.
Interview: Henrik Stadderko