The DFB Cup final with VfB Stuttgart is an emotional journey home for national players Maximilian Mittelstädt. His professional career started in Berlin – and now strives for a climax there.
For Maximilian Mittelstädt, the DFB Cup final in Berlin will probably become a little more emotional than is already for most players. After all, the left -back with VfB Stuttgart returns to the Olympic Stadium for the first time as a player. So where he gained his first profit experiences as a talent of Hertha BSC. At home, his family and the closest friends will support him from the stands, says Mittelstädt. “It will be a very special moment for me.”
Against the third division club Arminia Bielefeld, the national player and his Stuttgart colleagues born in Berlin want toLive in SWR1 stadium) Get the first title since the 2007 championship – and Mittelstädt the preliminary climax of his career to the clearly favored Bundesliga club. After won semi -finals against RB Leipzig (3: 1) Be it “very surreal” for him, to know that he could now play this game, the 28-year-old said.
The greatest thing would of course be to get the trophy uphill in Berlin.
Maximilian Mittelstädt
Started in Berlin, started in Stuttgart
At Hertha BSC, his profile career started slowly and tough, but since his move to Stuttgart in 2023 she took a lot of speed. This development is “crowned again with the final,” says Mittelstädt. “And of course the greatest thing would be to get the trophy uphill in Berlin.”
When the Berlin native gave his Bundesliga debut in the Hertha jersey at the beginning of March 2016, he was considered a kind of prototype for the many talents that arise from the youth academy of the capital association. High expectations accompanied the left foot at the time, but he could not (yet) fulfill it.
But Stuttgart’s coach Sebastian Hoeneß and the VfB sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth, who came from Berlin himself, believed in Middle Cities potential. For the transfer fee of 500,000 euros, which is almost ridiculous from today’s perspective, they brought him to the Neckar. He was “an absolute win as a player and as a type,” praised Hoeneß, who used to play in the Hertha youth, even then.
The national coach also sees medium -sized qualities
After a start -up time of a few months, Mittelstädt became a regular player on the left and formed an outstanding duo with the offensive wing player Chris Führich. It contributed significantly to the fact that VfB became runner -up in May 2024.
His debut in the national team, where he competed with the Leipzig David Raum around a regular place, had celebrated Mittelstädt in the game against France (2-0) about two months before. A few days later, his prime minister for Germany against the Netherlands (2-1) was first recorded the cult song “Major Tom”.
“Completely detached” – Middle Cities first goal for Germany
The fans in the Frankfurt stadium sang “completely detached …” – and Mittelstädt had also made a breakthrough in the DFB selection thanks to its duel, wing and good flanks. The wage: participation in The European Home Championship last summer And the prospect of playing at the World Cup for Germany in 2026.
“I think that I could have been developing better for the past almost two years,” says Mittelstädt, who also played with VfB in the Champions League. “Within a year and a half, I experienced almost everything I wanted to be a footballer for. That made me proud.”
Mittelstädt warns Third division champion Bielefeld
With his two preparations In the 3-2 victory in the league at RB Leipzig Mitteldstädt ensured on Saturday that VfB was able to build self-confidence at the end of a mixed Bundesliga season. A victory in the final is the only chance of the Stuttgart to qualify for the Europa League.
The leap into happiness: After the semi -finals against RB Leipzig, Maximilian Mittelstädt is certain that he can return to his old homeland in Berlin for the first time as a player with VfB Stuttgart
Mitteldstädt sees that third-division champions Bielefeld turned four Bundesliga clubs on their way to Berlin. Because “now all alarm bells are on and we know that it will not be an easy game”.
At the latest after the semi -final victory against Leipzig, “the cup final in Berlin was the fixed point of the season,” says sports director Wohlgemuth. For Mitteldstädt anyway: at the time he cried on the square with luck that he could play for the cup title in his home country.
Prize on Tuesday, 20.5.2025 6:40 p.m., SWR1 Baden-Württemberg
