Hannover 96: Goalkeeper Zieler surprisingly changes to Cologne

Hannover 96’s goal was guarded with interruptions for eleven years and had only extended his contract last January to 2026. Now the 36-year-old is moving back to the Cologne homeland. At FC, the 2014 world champion wants to challenge regular keepers Marvin Schwäbe.

96 With the departure of his captain, a figure of identification loses an identification figure, which it might have had a hard time under the new coach Christian Titz. The Titz system demands a fellow keeper who acts almost like a libero. Not exactly strengthen Zielers.

So the Cologne possibility is just right for the veteran. In addition, Zieler had emphasized anyway that he would like to play again in the Bundesliga. The opportunity is now available for him, and that in his hometown.

“Now the club has the opportunity to make a really clear and consistent cut – also with a view to the hierarchy in the team.”

Ron-Robert Zieler

“I think everyone knows what Hannover and especially Hannover 96 mean to me. Here I have become at home, have found friends, and I combine many crucial moments of my career with this club,” Zieler is quoted on the homepage.

“There is a big change this summer. I have thought a lot in the course of the conversation. Now the club has the opportunity to make a really clear and consistent cut – also with a view to the hierarchy in the team. That then the 1. FC Köln, my youth club, reported to me a few days ago and then made an offer with an offer beyond the active career, was the last one Building block to get this well -considered decision. “

96 Managing Director Marcus Mann explained that Zieler had approached him at the beginning of last week. “Ron’s thoughts are very clear and matured. Our planning was originally different, but when a player like him comes up with these thoughts, then of course we seriously deal with it. Since then, we have had several good conversations in the past few days, but that ultimately did not lead to changing his opinion,” said man.

Cologne’s sports director Thomas Kessler said: “Ron was an absolute wish player in our squad planning and will make a valuable contribution to a successful season as an important piece of puzzle.”

Almost 400 games for Hannover 96

With 382 competitive operations for 96, Zieler is undoubtedly one of the club icons. At the beginning of the 2010/11 season, the goalkeeper came to Hanover from the offspring of Manchester United and made his debut for the German national team in 2011. In 2014 he was part of the German world champion squad in Brazil. The change to Leicester City followed in summer 2016, just three years later the family man returned to Hanover.

“Ron is a face of this club. He shaped Hannover 96 in the past few years, “said Mann, as the target, had recently extended his contract with 96 recently.

Does Mann Nahuel Noll get from Hoffenheim?

Now you have to look for a new keeper. The German U21 national goalkeeper Nahuel Noll from TSG Hoffenheim is said to be a topic among the Hanoverians. After extending his contract with the Sinsheimers, where there is currently no way past Oliver Baumann, the 22-year-old is to be awarded again.

Marcus Mann wants to make Hannover 96 ripening of the Bundesliga. In the NDR interview, he explains how the promotion should succeed.

On Friday, the DFL released the game plans for the 2025/2026 second division season, which starts on the first weekend in August.

The goalkeeper, who has been playing with interruptions since 2010 at the Lower Saxony second division club, is one of the club icons.