Marco Paulmichl: interview with the footballer who works two jobs

Marco Paulmichl answers the phone during a short break in the workshop: “I work as a secretary in a car repair shop in Burgusio, a hamlet of Malles Venosta, in Alto Adige. I get off at 5pm, then I run to Merano for training.” The 31-year-old Obermais defender scored his first two goals in Serie D on Sunday: “Thanks to my brace we overcame Cjarlins. We were coming off five defeats in a row. In group C we are second to last with 11 points. Last year we won promotion from Eccellenza, this is a difficult championship. We just want to have fun.” The leader of the Maia Alta team coached by Flavio Toccoli has always loved football, until two years ago he was trying to make room for himself in the Promotions: “I played for eight years with little Lavis, but my job is different. In the summer I take care of the family mountain hut in Alta Val Venosta. We have a farm with 58 cows, we produce milk and cheese. There is also a stable with pigs”.

From June to September he forgets about football.

“When the season ends I move to the mountains. The alarm goes off every morning at dawn, around 4.00. We take the cows out to pasture and then do the first milking. At lunch we welcome guests, I also work as a waiter. In the afternoon there is the second grazing and the last milking.”

Footballer, waiter, breeder. And then?

“At the mountain hut I also dedicate myself to the production of cheese, butter and milk. The Alps are my life. I live in Laudes, a hamlet of Malles, between the snow and the pastures. I only return to the city in winter to work in the workshop”.

Football is his other great passion.

“My brother played, my dad was a coach at Laces. I made a lot of sacrifices, but I’m happy. During the winter I travel over an hour to go to training from Burgusio to Merano. But taking to the pitch on Sunday is an incredible feeling.”

Now he has also scored the first two goals in D. How did you celebrate them?

“Drinking beers with teammates at the stadium bar. I offered for everyone, let’s hope it’s not the last time (laughs, ed.)”.

Last season the promotion came from Eccellenza. Where does Obermais want to go?

“Let’s try to secure salvation, it won’t be easy. We are a small club born in 1972, this is our first time in Serie D. In the team we all have a job off the pitch: the younger ones study, there are those who are waiters, farmers, clerks. On the pitch, however, we give 100%, as if we were playing in the Champions League”.

“Sergio Ramos. I wear number 4 like him and I have always played as a central defender. I dream of making my professional debut, but in the meantime I am content to live in the mountains with my cows.”