“I was happy to give up money”
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Is Edin Dzeko (39) the best winter transfer in the second division’s history? At least when you look at the bare numbers of his direct influence. But the veteran is not only a big hero among FC Schalke 04 fans, his coach, teammates and club legends are also impressed by the Bosnian national team captain. Dzeko and Schalke – it seems to fit like a glove.
Dzeko’s record after his first five appearances in the lower house is four goals and three assists. Since all data was collected in the history of the single-track 2nd Bundesliga, which was introduced in 1981, no one before him has achieved this as a winter transfer. And among all players, only 2006/07 Patrick Helmes and 2023/24 Haris Tabakovic started their first five second division games more successfully with nine scorers for Bundesliga relegated teams 1. FC Köln and Hertha BSC than Dzeko, who is fitter than ever.
“I usually go to the weight room before training to prevent injuries. After the sessions, I usually go for another 20 to 30 minutes. Then I go to the sauna, then to the ice pool, and then our physios treat me. I love football too much to give less than 100 percent,” Dzeko revealed his secret to success in the “Sport Bild” interview.
Schalke fans have been celebrating Dzeko since his signing
After five games without a win, the newcomer was recently the focal point of the promotion aspirants. After the spectacular 5:3 against 1. FC Magdeburg, Dzeko contributed a goal and an assist, the striker climbed up into the north curve with the whole team and coach Miron Muslic – something like that hadn’t happened in a long time. When Dzeko was presented in mid-January, thousands of fans came to training and his flock for the jerseys was sold out within a very short time.
Dzeko not only electrifies the entire Schalke environment, he also changes the team’s game. “We adapted the system because we knew what offensive power we had,” revealed Muslic after the jump back to the top of the table. Dzeko acts as the guaranteed passing point, not only threatening to score goals, but also putting teammates in the spotlight. “It’s easy when the players are very good. Edin is a legend. You have to find him in the penalty area because he’s always in the right position,” said Adil Aouchiche, who was also signed in the winter and started well.
“I don’t see myself as a star. I’m doing my job, that’s all,” replied Dzeko, but the hype surrounding him doesn’t leave him indifferent either. “The fans honor our performances. When I think about Saturday evening against Magdeburg: That’s why I came here. Because I know what Schalke is.” And he visibly enjoyed it with a big grin.
Schalke legends Fischer and Terodde excited about Dzeko
Club legend and record goalscorer Klaus Fischer was also enthusiastic about Dzeko’s debut. “High respect for this man. He knows where the goal is and how to score goals. For Schalke he is the best thing that could have happened,” said the 76-year-old in an interview with “RTL/Ntv”. Even in his old age, Dzeko is still “a guarantee for goals” and a “difference player”. “We can only hope that he doesn’t get injured under any circumstances, then he’ll score his goals and ensure that Schalke returns to the Bundesliga.”
Simon Terodde also knows where the goal is. The Schalke promotion hero of 2022, at the time top scorer in the 2nd league with a whopping 30 goals, also admitted on “At Broski – Die Sport-Show”: “I’m a Dzeko fanboy!” He simply does everything right on the pitch. “The whole statics have changed. Central defender Nikola Katic now knows exactly that he can play the ball to his throat or to his foot, Dzeko can handle it! That makes all players better. But Dzeko’s personality is even more outstanding. I would love to go into the dressing room now and train and play with him.”
Dzeko nipped debates about his age, his fitness level or possible problems in the team structure in the bud. “He totally embraces football. He doesn’t care whether he’s playing in Kiel in drizzle and two degrees Celsius. He goes out there and takes his teammates with him, makes his moves. The crucial phases are still to come – that’s when you need players who take responsibility and who don’t let anything influence them. That’s the kind of guy he is. Dzeko just wants the balls to come to him, he’ll do the rest,” said Terodde.
That was exactly one reason why Dzeko came to Schalke in the first place. At AC Fiorentina he mainly had to sit on the bench in the first half of the season. When he was no longer substituted on in the Serie A away game in Parma in December despite a 0-1 deficit in the final phase, but instead a defensive talent in Eddy Kouadio, it was clear to Dzeko: I wanted to leave and play a key role somewhere again.
Dzeko gets the Schalke transfer rolling himself
“The day after the game we had lunch together with the team. After eating, I sat alone in the room and thought. I asked myself: What do I want? What do I need? I came to the answer: An emotional stadium with loud fans. A club that thrills me once again. Then Schalke suddenly came to mind. At that moment I immediately picked up my cell phone and wrote to Nikola,” said Dzeko.
National team colleague Katic, now also his neighbor in Gelsenkirchen, made contact with the coach. “I was at home having brunch with my family shortly after Christmas when I got a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. It said: ‘Kind regards, Edin Dzeko.’ The hummus with olives got stuck in my throat!” Muslic looked back in the “11Freunde” interview. “Later I called him. I thought he wanted to ask me something, maybe have a contact. Never in my dreams did I think that he wanted to play for Schalke from January onwards! But that was exactly what he was after. Even on the phone I could feel that he was incredibly keen on it. Schalke grabbed him. Afterwards I immediately called Frank Baumann. We had agreed that we would only call each other between Christmas and New Year if it was really important. That was one of those cases.”
Together with the sports director, all levers were put in motion to realize the transfer. But music in particular was crucial. Dzeko said he spoke to the S04 coach several times. “We talked about everything: football, family, about life. And I told him clearly from the start: money isn’t important to me. I had other offers that were much more lucrative. But that wasn’t what was important to me at all. I was happy to give up money for this club. I still needed a few days to think about it, but my heart had actually already made up its mind with the message to Nikola.”
For Muslic it was also a matter of reducing the enthusiasm again. “It’s my job that requires absolute professionalism. After the first conversation with him and Frank’s promise that we wanted to try to sign him, I was emotional, but then quickly objective and professional. How can we integrate Edin? What role can we give him?” Questions that Muslic obviously answered very well. It was also clear to Dzeko that he didn’t want any privileges: “We clearly discussed what I could give the team. And that’s what I’m doing.”
Dzeko impresses Schalke with his down-to-earth attitude
The attacker has only changed his team for the better, says Muslic: “Edin is a champion, has won titles in Germany, England and Italy, was top scorer. He is a personality on the pitch and in the dressing room. (…) Edin is not one with star airs. He will sometimes grab a young player to chat to him. His impact was already evident in the first few days. He has that Bosnian warmth, is very down-to-earth and close to the people. That’s exactly why it fits “He was so wonderful to this club. After his first appearance against Kaiserslautern, I arrived at our PLZ (professional performance center; editor) the next day. And who was there and changed his clothes? That’s why he’s still playing football at the age of 39, because he exemplifies this professional attitude.”
Dzeko also emphasized that normal interaction is very important to him. “Of course I went to every single player and greeted them. That’s just normal. I learned from home: You always have to remain human. And on the ground.” This also applies to every employee in the club. “If you want to be respected by someone, you have to respect them too. It’s simple. It doesn’t matter whether someone has a lot of money or little money. Whether someone is white or black. Whether someone comes from Bosnia or Germany. What are we talking about?! Being human – that’s the most important thing. And treating everyone equally and with respect.”
That’s exactly what Dzeko wants to set an example for. “For me it’s self-evident. For example, you can’t just go to the equipment manager and say: ‘Give me that!’ No. You ask him how he’s doing and then ask him for help.” He takes his role model function very seriously. “I want to help and give the younger players a hug, especially when they’re in a slump.” There is currently a need for this in the defense, which has lost its stability. Ten goals conceded after six games in the second half of the season are as many as in the entire first half of the season. “The three Magdeburg goals don’t make me happy. That was immediately an issue in the dressing room,” Muslic also admitted.
Schalke fans hope that Dzeko’s influence continues until the end of the season – and perhaps beyond. “I’m not the type of person who can say a few months in advance that he’s going to stop. I’m not planning that far into the future. I’ll listen to my body in the summer and at the moment I’m still feeling very good. And I still have goals, including with the national team,” said the veteran about his future. Of course, he really wants to be promoted. “Schalke has always been a great club that, for me, belongs in the Bundesliga.”
Some people really underestimate what intrinsic motivation can do.
As long as it doesn’t decrease due to external circumstances, Edin won’t decrease either.
Mentality always wins – even over health factors.
As fit as Dzeko appeared after the game on both occasions, I cannot share those fears.
He also came across as rather lively to me during the game.
The best example is his preparatory work in the 4:2.
And now let’s move on from this season.
Most players have to…
