The fact that Freiburg will be fifth in the table after the first half of the season was not necessarily predictable. But it is logical because, among other things, the defense around Nico Schlotterbeck consistently defended.
“It’s been going somehow since I dyed my hair.” Nico Schlotterbeck, with his silver-gray hair and his height of 1.91 meters, cannot be overlooked in the Freiburg defense and since this first half of the season has been difficult to imagine without.
Strong in a duel and with an overview
17 missions. 67.1 percent won duels. 71.9 percent won aerial duels. Plus two goals, one against Gladbach and one against TSG Hoffenheim. These aren’t bad numbers for the center-back, whose football year 2021 was impressively successful.
Hansi Flick nominates Schlotterbeck
The 22-year-old has a large share in the stable defense of the Breisgauers, who, together with FC Bayern Munich, have conceded the fewest goals of all Bundesliga clubs this season (16). With his performances, he even made it into the senior national team. National coach Hansi Flick nominated the U21 European champion.
“I earned the nomination through my performance.”
Although he has not been there so far, he even had to leave injured in the end. Nevertheless, the nomination fits in with his successful year 2021.
Schlotterbeck’s long way up to the national team
For Schlotterbeck, the way to the national team was connected with detours – that is also part of the history of the native Waiblinger. Nico Schlotterbeck grew up – together with his brother Keven – at SG Weinstadt in the Rems-Murr district. He was then trained by the Stuttgarter Kickers. The first setback came there at a young age: The Kickers no longer wanted it. “To be honest, it was a slap in the face,” admits Nico Schlotterbeck to SWR Sport. “Of course I was very frustrated at the time.” He then moved to VfR Aalen, played for Karlsruher SC and ended up with SC Freiburg.
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At SC Freiburg, Nico Schlotterbeck is considered a tower in many a defensive battle. The central defender had to make a long run-up to finally take off.
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Last season he played for Union Berlin on loan from Freiburg. There he made his breakthrough in the Bundesliga and developed into a regular player.
Difficult competition with brother Keven at SC Freiburg
After around two and a half years, the brothers Nico and Keven Schlotterbeck were together again in the starting eleven of SC Freiburg in the game against Union Berlin in mid-December – at the Alte Försterei, of all places, against the club to which both were loaned from SC.
That Nico Schlotterbeck is in competition with his brother Keven, who is also a defender, was something he didn’t really want to do to himself. He only feels comfortable with him in Freiburg if he doesn’t compete with him, he said in the summer. At that time he was associated with VfB Stuttgart, but stayed with SC.
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After around two and a half years, the brothers Nico and Keven Schlotterbeck were once again in the starting line-up of SC Freiburg – and held the defense together at Union.
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Change rumors about Schlotterbeck
“Everyone can see that he’s a good defender,” commented Julian Nagelsmann before the SC game against Bayern. It is undisputed that Nico Schlotterbeck is now also interesting for other clubs. His contract with SC runs until June 30, 2023 – it is possible that he will leave the Breisgau before that. According to rumors, for example, BVB has an eye on him. Schlotterbeck himself said in “Kicker”: “I’m not a guy who has to play in England or Spain. I always wanted to play in the Bundesliga, and preferably with the best club.”
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After his services for SC Freiburg – a perfectly understandable statement. Schlotterbeck also emphasized after the last first half of the season: “I definitely don’t plan to change in winter. I said before the season that I have to see where the next step is. I decided to do it in Freiburg. If next season the next step is back in Freiburg, I’ll stay here again. ”
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