Joker Petersen’s record: “That makes me unique”

Top goalscorer: Nils Petersen has a place in the history books at SC Freiburg.

IMAGO/Sportfoto Rudel

Since 1969, the kicker has given the top scorer to the most successful Bundesliga striker of the season. For several years there has also been an award for the non-professional category. In our interview series, legendary visitors talk about their careers. Today’s version: Nils Petersenjoker record in the Bundesliga.

What club did you start playing for?

At FC Wernigerode Unit. I started playing football because my father wanted me to. If he had asked me to play the recorder, I probably would have been a recorder player! Everyone in our family played football – we lived on the football field, so to speak.

I was very perceptive, I always wanted to learn and absorb everything.

Nils Petersen about how he started as a footballer

Were you a goalscorer as a child?

No, to be honest, I didn’t have that much talent either – but I was very happy, I always wanted to learn and absorb everything. My father used to be a striker too – obviously his advice helped. From the E-junior onwards I got visits more and more often.

Did you have a role model?

Before that it was the Brazilians Bebeto and Romario. Their interaction at the 1994 World Cup really impressed me. Later Ruud van Nistelrooy was my idol.

What was your most important goal?

My best goal was definitely my goal for the year 2018 in Dortmund. But my joker hat-trick against Eintracht Frankfurt in 2015 is at the top of the scale of importance: Having previously been dismissed in Bremen, these goals were in the first game after moving to SC Freiburg proved to me that I was still there. he is

Who was your best partner?

Philipp Lahm during my time at Bayern. With him you felt like you won every 4-on-4 competition in training. Then comes Kevin De Bruyne to Werder.

Who was your best opponent?

Joris Mathijsen from HSV. In normal situations he would always put his arm against my neck. That was very unpleasant.

Which goalkeeper was the best against him?

Phew, I’ll just say Weverton. He had probably studied the German rifles for weeks beforehand. Admittedly, my punishment didn’t burn very well either.

I knew my opponents and teammates very well and their strengths and weaknesses.

Nils Petersen about strengths

What was your strength?

Knowing where the ball might fall – also the most concentration when making a decision: Do I take the ball with one link or straight? In addition, I knew my opponents and teammates very well and their strengths and weaknesses. This has often given me a definite advantage.

What was your weakness?

I couldn’t defend many of the balls in front. I always had the ball high five with my back to the goal. So I wasn’t someone who would get time for the team.

Who is the best goalscorer of all time?

Cristiano Ronaldo. Even though he is not a classic nine, he still scores so many goals – his goal rate is simply brutal.

Of course I am still very interested in my former clubs Wernigerode and Halberstadt.

Nils Petersen is tied to amateur football

What amateur club are you still affiliated with?

Of course I am still very interested in my former clubs Wernigerode and Halberstadt. I also regularly check how they’ve played and where they are on the chart at the moment.

Do you still kick sometimes?

I only play for traditional teams – sometimes in Bremen, Cottbus or Freiburg. These are often internal competitions and friendly kicks, which I still enjoy very much.

What does it mean to you to be a record Joker in the Bundesliga?

To put it simply, that makes me unique in a certain way. I am a child of the Bundesliga – so I am very proud of this record. Back then, I often didn’t think it was cool that I didn’t play from the beginning. Today I say to myself: Great, you have left something in the Bundesliga – that is a nice feeling.

You are also SC Freiburg’s top scorer with 105 goals…

This album also means a lot to me. But I fear that Vincenzo Grifo will crack soon, he is getting closer and closer to me. But that would be fine by me too.

From Wernigerode to Rio: Nils Petersen looks back on an interesting career.
IMAGO/Images

Nils Petersen white

· He was born on December 6, 1988 in Wernigerode
· Professional stations: FC Carl Zeiss Jena (2007 – 08), Energie Cottbus (2009 – 11), FC Bayern Munich (2011 – 12), Werder Bremen (2012 – 14), SC Freiburg (2015 – 23) · 295 Bundesliga games (89 goals)
· 2 international games (no goal)
· 6 games for the German Olympic team 2016 (6 goals)
· Olympic silver medal (2016)
· 2nd Bundesliga Champion (2015/16)
· Top scorer in the 2nd Bundesliga 2010/11 (25 goals)
Record joker in the Bundesliga (34 joker goals)
SC Freiburg’s top scorer (105 goals)