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Robin Ungerath, striker at SV Wacker Burghausen, is the whiz kid in the Bavarian regional league. In 2018, the now 22-year-old attacker still played in the district league for TSV Bad Endorf. In the FUSSBALL.DE interview, Ungerath talks about his dream start in Burghausen, an eight-month adventure in Australia and his plans for the future.
FUSSBALL.DE: After your first eight regional league games, you top the list of goalscorers in the Bavarian regional league with eight goals. What is your secret of success, Mr. Ungerath?
Robin Ungerath: I’m highly motivated, want to win every game and always put my best performance on the pitch to help the team. It is all the nicer for me that it has almost always worked with one goal so far.
How did you develop your nose for goals?
“It is an honor for me to play for a traditional club like Wacker Burghausen”
Ungerath: I’ve always played attacking in the youth field and in lower-class football and over the years I’ve developed a good feeling for how I have to behave in front of goal. As a striker you shoot at goal far more often than any other player. Because of this, you get a certain feeling of where the gate is and when it is best to lock it. Still, I couldn’t assume that as a newcomer to the regional league, things would go so well from the start. I’m a little surprised myself. (laughs)
Are there any role models from whom you have copied something?
Ungerath: I’m a Stuttgart fan and have always enjoyed looking at ex-national striker Mario Gomez in the VfB jersey. I found his positional play in the penalty area very good. And we don’t even have to talk about Cristiano Ronaldo. (laughs) He is not only a great role model for me.
It is particularly noteworthy that three years ago you were still on the ball in the district league for TSV Bad Endorf. How does your meteoric rise feel?
Ungerath: Things can’t go any better for me at the moment. I live my dream at SV Wacker. After the eighth matchday we are in third place in the table and we are very close to the top. Neither of us expected it. I am part of the whole and immediately got myself a regular place. It can go on like this.
Let’s be honest: Would you have thought such a development was possible in Bad Endorf back then?
Ungerath: No of course not. The topic of possibly being able to play higher was already ticked off at this point. But when the opportunity arose to switch to the state league at TSV 1880 Wasserburg, I took the chance. It was my best decision, because after that it was only uphill.
Are you still in contact with your former Kreisliga colleagues and how do your buddies react to your promotion?
Ungerath: The contact has never been broken. The boys are happy for me. Many of them have already been to the stadium in Burghausen several times to keep their fingers crossed for me. For this they at least accept a driving distance of one hour. That makes me very happy. If the time works out, I still like to visit their games.
It is well known that goals arouse desires at other clubs. Where should your path still lead?
Ungerath: I’m not worried about that at the moment. I’ve only just arrived at SV Wacker and want to confirm my performance week after week, play a cool season with Burghausen and keep improving. My contract runs until summer 2023, after which we’ll see. I feel very well. It is an honor for me to play for a traditional club like Wacker Burghausen.
In which areas do you still need to improve?
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Ungerath: You can’t score a goal from every chance. But in the most recent 4-0 win at TSV Rain / Lech on Tuesday, I left out two big things. That annoyed me. Basically, I can certainly improve in all areas. With every further step into a higher league, the demands on understanding the game, ball control and speed become more demanding. So far I’ve managed to adapt and work on myself pretty well.
Where do you see your strengths?
Ungerath: I would say that I belong to the so-called mentality players, that I go up to or even over my limits in every game. I can make very good use of my speed when playing in depth. In addition, I usually look for the conclusion quickly and don’t hesitate long in front of the goal.
Where does the speed come from? Are you burdened by other sports?
Ungerath: Indeed. (laughs) In addition to soccer, I also did athletics for two years during my youth. That brought me a lot. I tried myself as a decathlete and found the sprint competitions particularly interesting. Back then I was an all-rounder, I could do everything, but nothing really. (laughs)
What influence did Wacker trainer Leonhard Haas have, with whom you already worked after moving from TSV Bad Endorf to TSV 1880 Wasserburg?
Ungerath: When I switched to TSV Wasserburg, the club was still playing in the national league. In the first year we were promoted to the Bayern League. In the second season we also played right up there until the season was canceled due to the corona pandemic. When Leo then moved to Burghausen, we stayed in contact. He was and is my contact person for football issues and was also the decisive factor that I followed him to Burghausen. I can already say: It was exactly the right step for me.
You actually wanted to study in the USA before moving to Burghausen, right?
Ungerath: That’s correct. A year ago I had given notice of my apartment and sold my car. However, I was unable to start my planned trip to the USA because of Corona and initially postponed it to December. During this time I had many conversations with trainer Leo Haas. In the end I gave up the USA to switch to SV Wacker Burghausen, which I don’t regret in retrospect. The states have to wait. (laughs)
In any case, you don’t seem to be afraid of adventure. After graduating from high school, you went on a long work & travel trip to Australia. What made you do it?
Ungerath: After graduating from high school, I booked a flight to Sydney and am going to Australia for eight months. At that time I was still playing in the district league. So it was clear that I would do it. I met a lot of people, traveled a lot and made a living doing small temporary jobs. It was a mega time.
How much did this experience shape you?
Ungerath: Back then, when I was 18, I was on my own. Seen in the rearview mirror, this experience abroad definitely encouraged my independence.
What personal goals have you set yourself, both in sport and in your private life?
Ungerath: I am studying business administration in the fifth semester and would like to do my bachelor’s degree at the Burghausen campus in the next year and a half. A completed degree is very important to me. In terms of sport, I want to move up even further. Currently, however, I’m staying on the ground, doing my thing and wanting to get the most out of SV Wacker.
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