Back to the beginning
© TM/Imago
In front of 50 spectators on an ashing area in the province and after playing with the teammates, drink a beer in the clubhouse instead of answering questions from journalists in the mixed zone-the differences between the dazzling professional business and amateur football are great. Nevertheless or precisely because of this, former professionals always find their way back to the amateur area.
One of them is Daniel Didavi, for whom in 2022 at the age of 32, the end of the big stage. VfB Stuttgart no longer extended the playmaker’s contract, which was in 152 encounters for his youth club. The five-time U21 international flirted with a change to the MLS or a whereabouts in the Bundesliga, but neither of them came about. Didavi’s career was shaped by many injuries, which is why the talented offensive artist did not get beyond a market value of 7 million euros. The Swabian could not play almost four of his thirteen years of professional career and thus missed 288 games.
The ex-professional has been playing in the district league A Neckar/Fils 2 for TSV Harthausen since 2024. The contact came about through the brother of the assistant coach, who is closely friends with Didavi. Harthausen’s coach Serdjan Savic said about the obligation: “He still really wants football.” In his first five games, he was directly involved in five goals. Didavi also gains new experiences away from the square. He not only supports the ninth division in the field with his football qualities, but also fills out the role of the assistant coach.
Rausch back at the youth club: “I grew up here”
Konstantin Rausch was born in the Soviet Union and moved to Germany at the age of six. He went through all Junior national teams of the DFB and decided in the adult area for the Russian selection, for which he completed nine games. The defense lawyer played 246 times in the Bundesliga and after a less successful station at the 1st FC Nürnberg in 2022 there was a nail-at least in paid football. However, he has been preserved in a new function, and since 2023 he has gained his first experience as a scout at the “Club”.
Rausch moved to the 3rd district class after the end of his profile career to SC Vorwerk Celle II. “Already at the beginning of my career I said that I would like to play a few more games with my brother as soon as I was at a high level in shaft,” said the then 32-year-old. He scored 15 goals in six missions, four of them in his debut.
Since 2023 he has been back at his first football club, TuS Lachendorf, who has now founded a syndicate with MTV Beedbostel. “I know everything here, I grew up here. I want to help Lachendorf get the team again, which deserves it, ”said the 34-year-old today at his idea. In his first season, the promotion to the district league Celle and the ex-professional collected 25 scorer points in 16 games.
Jansen refutes his critics: “This is exactly football, how I love him”
Marcell Jansen in action for HSV III
Marcell Jansen ended his career in 2015 at the age of 29. This caused lack of understanding and criticism. For example, Rudi Völler believed that Jansen never loved football. For the wing player, who ran 187 times for Hamburger SV, his connection to the red pants was decisive for his decision to put their back on professional football. In the course of his farewell, he said: “I can’t suddenly kiss another coat of arms.”
At the beginning of 2018, Jansen, who became Double-Sieger with FC Bayern Munich in 2008, celebrated his comeback with the third team of HSV in the Oberliga Hamburg. “The boys are all still working” normally ‘and I find it so cool because it is exactly football as I love it, “said the then 32-year-old his return to the lawn and thus referred the statement of Völlers. The ex-professional was no longer able to prevent the descent into the Landesliga, but the following year the direct resort was achieved. Jansen, who now runs as a striker, contributed eight goals and four templates in ten missions.
Jansen and the “third”, that just fits. This year the entrepreneur and outgoing president of the HSV will play his eighth season for the highest amateur team of the Hanseatic Council. In total, he comes to 89 missions (73 goal participations) and celebrated two ascents to the Oberliga. He also helped the team financially by organizing a jersey and sleeve sponsor. This success story ends with the course of the current season: “With my professional workload and my dwindling stress, it is no longer enough for the Oberliga from summer.”
Castro starts the amateur area
The time in amateur football for Gonzalo Castro, who has been running for TuS Roland Bürrig since February 2025, has just started two and a half years after he had ended his successful professional career at Arminia Bielefeld. The five-time German international became European champion in 2009 with the U21 selection and won the DFB Cup with BVB in 2017. At that time, its market value was estimated at 15 million euros. In the Bundesliga, the German-Spaniard ran in 421 encounters and played 30 times in the premier class.
The former player of Bayer Leverkusen is looking forward to helping the boys and passing on his experience in his new task in Kreisliga B Cologne. “The boys are all great and motivated, that was an important part that influenced my decision – of course the trainer too.” Coach Thomas Herrmann also makes it clear that Castro does not want a special role: “He wants to get involved as a normal team member and help with full commitment.”
Two ascents in three years: Schmiedebach success story in Ahrensfelde
After more than twelve months of association, Manuel Schmiedebach joined the Seventh team Grün-Weiß Ahrensfelde in 2021 and ended his professional career at the age of 32. “The environment in Ahrensfelde surprised me positively-both the sporting quality of the team and the equipment of the sports facility are already exceptional for a Landesliga club. I feel comfortable here and would like to support our young players with my experience, ”commented the 181-time Bundesliga player.
The collaboration developed into a success story, and the team rose to the Brandenburgliga in the first season with the ex-professional. With 15 scorers in 26 games, the midfield engine had a large proportion of success. Two years later, the promotion to the NOFV Oberliga North followed and the first step for the club to the highest amateur league.
At the beginning of the Oberliga season 24/25, Schmiedebach also took over the trainer office of the promoted team and thus supported the head coach Oliver Richter. “Manu has been training our U15 since last season and is fully involved in club life, that gives me goose bumps and makes me proud,” said the department head Maik Pruschke. In addition, the long-time Hanoverian completes his B license and then wants to obtain the A license afterwards.
The green-whites’ flight seems to be over for the time being. The promoted team ended the first half of the season with only six points in the penultimate place in the table and the 36-year-old Schmiedebach only comes to short missions.