Silvestre transfer: It clicked after two minutes

Socially active: Mikael Silvestre during a training session with children during his time with Arsenal
First Team
Tuesday, 31.08.2010 / 18:47

It must have clicked in the first couple minutes between Mikael Silvestre, Thomas Schaaf and Klaus Allofs. The quiet Frenchman and the congenial Werder duo met in the Green-Whites'...

It must have clicked in the first couple minutes between Mikael Silvestre, Thomas Schaaf and Klaus Allofs. The quiet Frenchman and the congenial Werder duo met in the Green-Whites’ team hotel before the Champions League qualifying game in Genua and agreed with one another quickly. "I also had offers from other clubs, but when I met Thomas and Klaus in Genua I was immediately fascinated with their way of dealing with me and how they explained their work. After two minutes I knew already that my answer would be yes," admitted 33-year-old Silvestre, who is a five-time English champion, two-time World Cup participant and 2008 UEFA Champions League winner.

 

Silvestre is already anxious to get accustomed to northern Germany. "I do live in the hotel right now, but I will bring my four ladies to Bremen as quickly as possible, my wife Severin and my three daughters. We will try to get our children into the international school as quick as possible. I am certain that we will integrate ourselves very well," said Silvestre.

 

The Frenchman is also ready to get going on the pitch. Even though he did not take part in any preparations due to his expired contract, he worked out with other professionals in St. Raphael, southern France, with thoughts on a prospective new club. "Within 10 days I can be at the physical level I need to really keep up," Silvestre said, raising the bar for his own performance. "I would like to be one of the leaders of this team on which young players can orientate themselves. Players like Johan Micoud and Valerien Ismael made Werder Bremen a trademark in France. They were role models and I would like to be one as well in Bremen."

 

Mikael Silvestre worked two years with Arsene Wenger with Arsenal and the defender is especially looking forward to appearances in the Champions League, where he has played for years with Inter Milan, Manchester United and Arsenal. He has appeared in 79 Champions League matches since 1998. "After the World Cup, this competition is the most important for a player and I am very happy that Werder are back. We could have a great season here," said Silvestre. And he is also looking forward to the Bundesliga. "It’s very interesting because so many goals are scored. It’s just offensive as the Premier League," said Silvestre.

 

It will be up to the coach to decide at which position Silvestre will try and help Werder. "I have played the most games as left back, but I can also play on the inside as well. I also played both positions with the national team. I can play both spots," said Silvestre, who is not really interested in stardom. Just the opposite is true as when he was reading through his profile with career highlights he determined that his social activities were missing. "I have worked with the project SCHOOLS FOR HOPE since 2005 in which schools are built for orphans on the streets. In 2006 we opened our first school. Since then we have offered children in Nigeria, Guinea, Laos and Senegal to go to school for three years. Now we are starting a similar project on Haiti," said Silvestre.

 

All in all, Werder have brought in a highly interesting new acquisition. Thomas Schaaf recalled the magic moment of the beginning of the alliance in Genua. “How he presented himself in the first talk, it was clear quickly that we are on the same wave length, we will find a good connection,” said the coach.

 

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