Former Schalke goalkeeper
Former Schalke talent Lars Unnerstall (33) has been playing in the Netherlands for more than six years and is one of the best goalkeepers in the Eredivisie. Last season, no other goalkeeper kept the clean sheet as often as the 33-year-old (16 times), and his club Twente Enschede also had the best defense in the league with 27 goals conceded. In an interview with the magazine “Football InternationalUnnerstall spoke about his time at Twente, the Dutch national team and offers from Saudi Arabia and the Premier League.
“I consider it a nice compliment that I am sometimes associated with the Dutch national team. Every now and then it crosses my mind: With a Dutch passport, I might have been able to play in a World Cup or European Championship. But I’m not eligible to play because I moved back to Germany,” said Unnerstall. Enschede is just a stone’s throw from the German border; the journey by car to his hometown of Ibbenbüren takes less than an hour.
Unnerstall doesn’t regret moving to Germany at all: “I’ve never heard of the KNVB (Dutch Football Association; editor), so I have no idea whether I would have come into focus.” He could also forget about being nominated for the DFB team: “I can easily name five goalkeepers above me: Neuer, ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp, Oliver Baumann, Bernd Leno. They’re better than me.” So the focus remains on Twente. Unnerstall moved there in 2021; he was previously under contract with PSV Eindhoven and VVV-Venlo. He last played in Germany for Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2017.
Three times over 10 million: The most expensive German goalkeepers
To date, Unnerstall has appeared between the posts 93 times at Twente – more often than at any other club. Despite being 33 years old, in the summer he extended his working paper, which originally ran until 2025, by two years; he would be almost 37 when his contract ends. “I would ideally like to stay here until the end of my career. Seriously. Just get Jan Streuer (management consultant; editor). If he presents me with a contract up to the age of 40, I will sign immediately. I don’t have the anxiety to want to go somewhere else again. If I want to make millions, I shouldn’t stay at Twente. But my salary here is good, life is good, the club is good, the fans are good,” said Unnerstall.
Former Schalke player Lars Unnerstall about Twente: “I’m happy here”
Twente has been one of the top teams in the league again in the last two seasons, reaching fourth and fifth places. The club had previously gone through difficult phases in terms of sport and finances; in 2018/19 it played in the second division. Things are looking good this season too, we’re currently in fourth place. “Our club continues to develop. I am part of a Twente that is returning to where it belongs and I feel valued. What could I complain about?” asked Unnerstall.
He could have changed, he admitted. “To Saudi Arabia, last summer,” said Unnerstall. “I don’t even know the name of the club, it went through an intermediary. ‘Do you want to go to the sandpit?’ No thanks. But I was curious about what I could earn there. Three or four million a year. Of course I had to talk to my wife. So much money, you think: two years there and then Carlo (son; editor) doesn’t have to worry anymore.” But Unnerstall is sure that he would be “deadly unhappy” there and would come back after a short time would. “My wife has her friends and family around her, and so do I. I can go to birthdays. My father can see his grandson every day if he wants. He lives right next to us, my brother lives above him,” he said.
There was also interest from England: “When we were already talking about a contract extension, an English club approached my agent. The Premier League appeals to me, but I’ve already been in talks with Twente. I told my advisor I didn’t want to hear about this interest. It’s good the way it is. I’m happy here.”
To home page