Many well-known faces from German football are now playing abroad, largely unnoticed by the local media. In the sport.de spotlight today: two former BVB players and one on loan from VfB Stuttgart, who are impressive coaches under a real DFB legend.
In the summer of 2016, Borussia Dortmund celebrated a transfer coup. BVB “only” spent eight million euros and thus lured Marc Bartra, who previously played over 100 competitive games for FC Barcelona, to the Ruhr area.
However, the jubilation that accompanied the deal quickly died down. After one and a half years of rather average sporting success, the central defender, who is popular with the fans, was drawn back to his Spanish homeland to join Real Betis.
In Seville, Bartra blossomed into the undisputed regular for the first time in his professional career. In 2022 he even led his club to victory in the Spanish Cup and the Europa League.
Via Barca, BVB and Betis to Turkey
Bartra will also compete there in 2022/23. However, the 31-year-old no longer defends for Betis.
In the summer, the 14-time Spain international joined the Turkish first division club Trabzonspor, his fourth professional stop.
In his ninth appearance for his new employer, Bartra scored his first goal on Sunday – and the goal should stay in the memories of Trabzon fans for a long time.
After Gaziantep FK led 2-0 after less than ten minutes through former Bundesliga player Alexandru Maxim (FSV Mainz and VfB Stuttgart) and Lazar Markovic, Bartra and Co. fought back.
Late goal saves crazy home series
The Egyptian Trezeguet scored the connection in the 14th minute. Anastasios Bakasetas equalized before the break (penalty/42nd).
Bartra’s hour came late in the game: in the eighth minute of stoppage time, he headed his team into seventh heaven.
Bartra’s goal also saved his team from a crazy home run. In the league, Trabzonspor last lost in front of their home crowd on March 8, 2021.
Former BVB keeper finally set, but…
In the 2016/2017 season, alongside Bartra, Hendrik Bonmann was also under contract with BVB. He acted as the third goalkeeper in Dortmund for a total of four years, but was never used for the professionals.
In 2017, Bonmann left Borussia for TSV 1860 Munich. Two years later followed an engagement with the Würzburger Kickers. The now 28-year-old has been under contract with Wolfsberger AC in Austria for a few weeks.
Bonmann is crystal clear in the Alpine Republic. Only in the cup does the former Bundesliga coach and DFB sports director Robin Dutt rely on substitute Lukas Gütlbauer.
Despite his status as number one, Bonmann’s record has not been flattering so far.
Most recently, WAC celebrated a 3-1 win against TSV Hartberg and eleven points from nine games are a reasonable result. But with 19 goals conceded, Dutt’s team has the second-worst defense in the league. Bonmann hasn’t even played in a WAC jersey yet.
Talent from VfB Stuttgart convinces under Miroslav Klose
Like the former BVB keeper, Alexis Tibidi ended up in Austria in the summer.
VfB Stuttgart loaned the 18-year-old offensive player to SCR Altach for a season. Under coach Miroslav Klose, the Frenchman should gain match practice there.
In his ninth appearance in the Austrian Bundesliga, Tibidi scored his second goal for a 1-0 lead against Austria Klagenfurt last Saturday.
Altach then conceded four more goals – the next bankruptcy for Klose’s team. With 9:21 goals and just five points, Altach is at the bottom of the table.
However, Tibidi is currently collecting arguments for a future at VfB Stuttgart.
Marc Affeldt