Quick response
End of season for Bundesliga striker: coach brings in ex-protégé
02/02/2026 – 10:27 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Mainz 05 loses Benedict Hollerbach for the rest of the season. To do this, they are bringing back a striker who has already blossomed under coach Urs Fischer.
FSV Mainz 05, which is threatened with relegation, responded to the serious loss of Benedict Hollerbach with a quick transfer solution. After the 24-year-old attacker tore his Achilles tendon, the Rheinhessen signed Sheraldo Becker on loan from the Spanish first division club CA Osasuna.
Hollerbach suffered the serious injury on Saturday during Mainz’s 2-1 win at RB Leipzig. The club confirmed on Monday evening that the attacker would be out until the end of the season.
“First of all, we wish Benedict Hollerbach all the best and the fastest possible recovery! We will give him the best possible support in returning to the team as quickly as possible,” said Mainz sports director Niko Bungert.
Becker is 16th in the table. on a player with Bundesliga experience. The 30-year-old attacker played for Union Berlin from 2019 to 2024 and collected 24 goals and 26 assists in 140 competitive games.
A decisive advantage: In Berlin, Becker already worked with current Mainz coach Urs Fischer, who has been in charge of Rheinhessen since the beginning of December. This connection should accelerate integration.
“We are happy that we were able to find a solution in such a short amount of time that doesn’t take a long time to get used to and brings us even more quality into the squad,” explained Bungert about the commitment.
For Becker, the loan to Mainz offers more match practice. He was only used irregularly at his previous stations at Real Sociedad and CA Osasuna. The striker is under contract with the Spaniards until 2028.
