Regional League, Bundesliga Second Division, Bundesliga, UEFA Conference League, UEFA Europa League, Champions League and now also the German national team. Kevin Behrens’ meteoric rise over the past five years is unprecedented.
In May 2018, the forward played the last of a total of 179 regional league games for 1. FC Saarbrücken, then was transferred from the German fourth league to SV Sandhausen, the second tier of the Bundesliga. Behrens came to professional football at the age of 27.
Third oldest debutant in the German national team
The story did not finish there. After three years at Sandhausen, Behrens was called up by Union Berlin, where he began playing in the Bundesliga. The Berliners qualified for the European Cup three times in a row, so Behrens also played international matches.
The icing on the cake was joining the German national team after Julian Nagelsmann took over as national coach. At 32 years and eight months, he is already the third oldest rookie in the history of the national team.
“Honestly, I didn’t even think I would make it to the Bundesliga,” the forward modestly admitted. “I’m very, very proud of the fact that I never gave up and always worked on myself. The path I’ve taken has made me who I am today,” Behrens said, knowing who he had to thank: his wife , with whom he has three children.
“She has always supported me, even in difficult times. She has been through everything, from Wilhelmshaven [donde Kevin Behrens jugó en la liga regional en 2011/2012 – nota del editor] until now in Berlin,” he said.
Start of season with Unión
By the way, when Hansi Flick was still national coach, there was already speculation about his possible nomination for the German national team. While the national team was lacking strikers and there were few scoring opportunities, Behrens had already scored four goals in the first two games of the Bundesliga season.
However, as Union have since suffered seven consecutive defeats in official competition, Behrens did not expect a nomination for the trip to the United States to participate in the friendly matches against the United States and Mexico.
Kevin Behrens happy to have scored a goal.Image: Andreas Gora/dpa/picture alliance
Strong at the start, good in the air
Behrens said he was “shocked and surprised” by Nagelsmann’s call. At first the national coach also seemed puzzled and asked several times if the person he was speaking to was Kevin Behrens from Unión Berlin. Apparently Nagelsmann had already got the wrong number and had spoken to someone who was even more surprised than Behrens.
“He is a good guy who always wants to win. He retains many players in the area [el área de 16 metros delante de la portería contraria]”, the new national coach praised his striker after the first training sessions. He is strong running, but also in the air: “That helps when we have rivals who defend deep, but we also need a goal,” said Nagelsmann.
Behrens as protagonist of the EURO CUP?
Is Behrens a player who doesn’t complain, who is happy and motivated just by being there, who does everything on and off the field for the team’s success?
Niclas Füllkrug played that role in the disappointing World Cup in Qatar. Kevin Behrens could do it at the next European Championship at home in 2024. According to Behrens, he could always “push something” and “cause a ruckus.”
For Kevin Behrens, with Germany at Euro 2024 in his own country and six years after his last regional league game, it would be the culmination of an unprecedented rise.
(rmr/s)
2023-10-17 15:57:19
#Kevin #Behrens #regional #league #German #national #team