Ten appearances in the Champions League. Julian Korb knows the big football stage from his time as a regular full-back at Borussia Mönchengladbach. This Sunday (1.30 p.m. / live ticker on KN-online) the 29-year-old with Holstein Kiel is going against Keller’s competitor Düsseldorf for important home points in league two. Fortuna instead of Barca, Narey instead of Neymar – more frustration than pleasure in the less than glamorous everyday life of the Bundesliga lower house?
“Especially this season you don’t have to complain about a lack of a celebrity factor in our league,” counters Korb. The reality is that a good five years after the highlights of his career so far, the native of Essen was only four times in the starting XI in his total of only ten appearances for KSV in this series. Most recently before the international break in the 2-1 win in Regensburg. Regular players are different.
With Korb in the starting eleven, the Storks have not lost a game
Points are guaranteed with a basket in the starting eleven: With him in the starting line-up, the Storks have not yet lost a game (two wins, two draws). Has the KSV trainer staff around boss Marcel Rapp not fully recognized the qualities of the basket? “Yes, I think so. At the moment things are going quite well for us and for me personally – and I hope that it will continue like this,” says Korb, looking at the small series of four games without defeat and his own high form rather modestly.
He would have good reasons to do offensive self-promotion in the original sense of the word. With his joker goal in Nuremberg (1:2) and his place to equalize in Regensburg, Korb is the only goal scorer from the Storks’ defensive department after 20 match days.
Increased presence in the penalty area under head coach Marcel Rapp desired
In the 3-3 test against St. Pauli, he also proved his finishing qualities despite a special splint to protect his broken middle hand. Only an offside whistle prevented a brace after his regular 2-0 lead. “It is so desired by the coach that the outside players push in at the front when they attack. In other systems that I have played in recent years, it was often the case that the full-back who was far away from the ball moved in and protected defensively. Accordingly, our system benefits me and of course I also enjoy it,” explains the 36-time U-national player, explaining his increased presence in the penalty area.
The modified role play on the outer track. Korb also regularly exchanges information about this with his father Michael, a former second division professional in Duisburg and Solingen. In any case, family is very important to him. Korb reports that he has almost daily contact with his parents.
Deep relaxation and individuality as trademarks
Perhaps also because of this background, the 1.77 m tall high school graduate, who played for Gladbach eleven years in a row from 2006 and played 106 of his 116 first division games during this time, seems completely relaxed. “It’s my nature,” says Korb, who would look good on any student team with his outward appearance and his long black hair tied in a ponytail. “I’ve always had different hairstyles. At some point I had the idea of letting them grow – and at some point I will cut them off again. I haven’t decided yet when that will be. Probably when I don’t feel like it anymore,” says Korb, whom everyone in Kiel just calls “Jule”, with a pinch of self-mockery.
Individuality paired with Westphalian pragmatism – a combination that did not unduly upset him even during his twelve months without a club after the end of his contract with Hannover 96 in summer 2020. Despite other options, he only saw his criteria for a new commitment (“that the style of play suits me and I have a good feeling when talking to those responsible”) fulfilled when he contacted KSV Holstein. That was in the summer of 2021.
On Sunday, Fortuna Düsseldorf is a guest at the Holstein Stadium. The opponent against whom Korb celebrated his starting eleven debut for the storks in a 2-2 win in the first half of the season. His current oracle is: “I would take a 2-0 for us.” Which Kieler wanted to contradict that?
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