Hamburg Irish legionnaire Pöhls in an interview: Champion with the Rovers

Rovers goalkeeper from Hamburg

Successful German players abroad? Names like Toni Kroos, Marc-André ter Stegen or Kai Havertz immediately come to mind. But there is also someone in Ireland who has been champion in each of the last four years: Léon-Maurice Pöhls from Shamrock Rovers. The 26-year-old goalkeeper talks to Transfermarkt about his time in Dublin, Irish football, the city derby with the Bohemian Football Club and the dream of professional football.

When Pöhls directs the people in front of him with commands, it is difficult to hear an accent. Even when he speaks English in a conversation, his origins don’t immediately come through. “I had enough practice time. I still remember my early days abroad. That was hard, with my broken school English. In fact, I am now not even considered German. “A lot of Irish people always think I’m one of them after the first few sentences,” he says.

At the age of 17, the former Eintracht Norderstedt youth player took the step abroad and graduated from a high school in Florida, USA. He then moved to a university in England to study International Business Management. He also played for the lower-class Tadcaster FC. “Even as a teenager, I was someone who really wanted to get around the world and see as many countries as possible, which is why I decided to get a scholarship to an American high school. If you play football and love football, you always dream of becoming a professional. Nevertheless, studying was also a kind of security and I would probably have continued on this career path if I hadn’t been given this opportunity,” says Pöhls.

By chance, the goalkeeper means a one-week trial training session with Irish club Shamrock Rovers. “We played a friendly against Rovers and I think we lost 5-0 or 6-0. But Stephen Bradley (Rovers’ head coach; red) apparently liked my saves, my demeanor and my positional play so much that he invited me straight to a trial training session. Within a few days it was clear that the club wanted to sign me as number two. For me, of course, it was a dream come true,” he says.

At this point in time, the German did not yet know how important his new club would be in Ireland. He could only guess at it. The numbers speak for themselves: the Rovers are by far the most successful club in the country, they are record champions and record cup winners. “A few months ago I went on a walking holiday through Ireland and arrived in a really small village in the south west. When one of the residents asked me where I came from and who I was, we immediately came to the topic of Shamrock Rovers. Even in the most remote areas, football puts you in immediate contact with people. “You notice that the Rovers have the same status in Ireland as FC Bayern Munich in Germany,” says Pöhls.

The duel with Rovers is a highlight for every opponent: “As many of the pitches are very narrow, you can feel the breath of the fans right behind you. It’s completely normal for opposing fans to insult you for 90 minutes. But I think that’s kind of cool and that’s what sets Irish football apart.”

Pöhls: “Irish football is very rough and very passionate”

In recent years, Pöhls has gained experience as a substitute keeper, but at the beginning of this season he also had a reputation as the eternal number two. A status that he desperately wanted to get rid of. That’s why he tried to implement even more of what his goalkeeper coach Jose Ferrer gave him. The hard work in training was rewarded over the course of this season, even though it benefited from club icon Alan Mannus’ bad luck with injuries. Pöhls thanked us for the trust in the form of strong performances.

Pöhls describes his long-time competitor Mannus as a kind of mentor: “Alan is a professional through and through. I was able to learn an incredible amount from him. Over the years he has shown me which nuances really matter. He is not someone who talks a lot, but rather lets his actions speak for themselves. He was always the first to arrive at training and really performed consistently every day. A few weeks ago he took me aside after training and said: ‘Leon, you will soon be my successor. Stay as you are, believe in yourself and never start to doubt.’ Afterwards I had a lump in my throat and got a bit emotional.”

Thanks to the minutes of play, the German gradually became more confident. In the interview, he emphasizes how important mental work is for him: “I am convinced that mental strength is almost more important than technical skills. I now consciously engage with psychology and also work with a mental trainer. There is a lot of pressure on the goalkeeper. Most of the time the game passes you by, but you still have to concentrate for 90 minutes because a single action can tip the game. That’s why skills like proper breathing techniques or visualization are essential for a goalkeeper. I am also someone who is very detail-oriented. I focus intensively on the opponent: whether it’s a set-piece taker or a penalty taker, I want to know everything about them.”

Pöhl notes how important physical presence is as a goalkeeper: “Irish football is very rough and very passionate. Trash talk is the order of the day, as are little hidden kicks at set pieces. I’ve come to terms with the fact that the opponent will touch me in the face with his elbow or that you’ll get hit in the ribs before a corner kick. The players put their hearts and emotions into it, but after the game everyone shakes hands and no one holds grudges.”

Pöhl’s regular keeper from the new season: “I’m extremely grateful”

The fans in particular have grown dear to him. They bring the atmosphere and charm to the 8,000 capacity Tallaght Stadium. Above all, the games against local rivals Bohemian are the highlight of every season for Pöhls. A derby with a great tradition: the first duel between the two teams was played in 1915. It always attracts football-loving spectators from all over the city and it often gets heated. For example, former Rovers professional Tony Grant had a severed pig’s head thrown at his feet during the game after he moved to Bohemian.

“A week before the derby you notice how electrified the city is. Everyone is looking forward to this game. You can tell which fan camp they belong to just by looking at people on the street. For example, my hairdresser is a Bohemians fan and I’m always afraid that he’ll mess up my hair before the game. No matter what rank the clubs are in the table, on the match day the stadium burns and turns into a cauldron,” says Pöhls and adds: “What excites me, however, is the solidarity when the Irish national team plays. Then the opposing fans form a unit. For me, the Irish are an incredibly warm-hearted and lovable people who, no matter what the weather is like, are always in a good mood,” says Pöhls.

Outside of sport, the Hamburg native has made himself at home and calls Dublin his second home. There is only one thing he particularly misses – the currywurst: “Every year when I come to Hamburg to visit my family, I have to stop at Mönckebergstrasse and treat myself to a currywurst. Unfortunately there is no such thing in Dublin. That’s why I hope that at some point a German emigrant will open a barbecue joint in Dublin.”

Thanks to Pöhls’ saves, the Rovers were able to celebrate their fourth championship in a row. At the party that followed, there was a lot of Guinness flowing – but not for the goalkeeper: “Actually, I don’t like it. The championship parties are always very special. The Irish soul lives here. There is laughter, dancing and lots of Irish songs being sung.”

Because 41-year-old Mannus is hanging up his football boots at the end of the year, Pöhls will be number one from the new season. He said: “I am extremely grateful that the club and Stephen Bradley have placed this trust in me. I’m really looking forward to the new season and feel very proud that I can now wear number one on my back. Furthermore, it is a reward that it was worth taking this path and that I can live my dream as a professional footballer.”

Interview: Henrik Stadnischenko

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