The Characters of the Year

Kevin De Bruyne and Aaron Hunt
First Team
Monday, 30.12.2013 / 13:34

The past twelve months have simply flown by! Twelve months characterized by highs and lows, disappointments and celebrations, painful setbacks and mutual support.
Both the team...

The past twelve months have simply flown by! Twelve months characterized by highs and lows, disappointments and celebrations, painful setbacks and mutual support. Both the team, as well as the fans, were responsible for some emotional memories through what was a very difficult 2013. The situation on the whole made it tough to maintain an overview and, for that reason, WERDER.DE has put together a comprehensive review of the Green-Whites most exceptional moments throughout the year. Today, in part three: The Characters of the Year

Kevin De Bruyne: Impressive ball mover

He came, saw and did his part in staving off relegation. In the summer of 2012, the Green-Whites brought in Kevin De Bruyne on loan for one year from London club Chelsea. De Bruyne's game awareness and permanent push forward was impressive. "He doesn't just move the ball quickly, he brings it back into the game. Corners and free kicks are the Belgian's specialities," observed the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper early December 2012. "There hasn't been such a ball mover along the Weser since the star playmakers like Johan Micoud, Diego or Mesut Özil." And De Bruyne was extremely important for Werder during the relegation battle. He scored Werder's final five goals of the season and said: "We had so much bad luck this season. But we deserved to stay in the first division." After the season, De Bruyne went back to Chelsea.

Felix Kroos: More and more a part of the action

Felix Kroos had already given notice on his apartment and wanted to leave Bremen after three unhappy years. But all of a sudden, after exactly zero minutes in the Bundesliga during the 2012-13 season, the 22-year-old was in the starting line-up in April against Fortuna Düsseldorf. "You know that I was always a fan of Felix." This quote could have come from his big brother, Toni Kroos. But it was from Werder manager Thomas Eichin and head coach Robin Dutt added: "Felix has developed excellently. That also shows in that he will regularly be nominated for the starting line-up." The defensive midfielder's promising first half of the current season confirmed that trust until he got injured at the end of November. He even scored his first Bundesliga goal against Schalke. Bremen have since extended his contract until 2015.

Santiago Garcia: Warm greetings from the left wing

Santiago Garcia could not contain his feelings any longer and wanted to share them with the Werder fans. Werder's left back rushed towards the East Curve to celebrate the game-winning goal in Bremen's 3-2 victory against Hannover as he scored five minutes before the final whistle. "I just wanted to be close to the supporters. I feel good there. Ideally I would have stayed seated in the East Curve and the referee would have blown the final whistle," said the Argentinean, who came to Bremen on loan from Chilean side Social de Deportes Rangers. About Garcia, head coach Robin Dutt said: "Everyone can see what a nice guy we have in our ranks. When the surroundings, the fans and everyone else see him so positively, then we couldn't have done much wrong."

Lorenzen, Kobylanski, Selke & Co.: Werder’s Talents

"At the beginning, everything just kind of passes you by. You don't really get anything - it's all like a dream," said Melvyn Lorenzen with almost glazed eyes in the mixed zone after Werder's match against VfB Stuttgart. The 18-year-old had just played his first Bundesliga match for Werder. After Lorenzen, Martin Kobylanski (19 years old) and Davie Selke (18) both shared the same experience. Kobylanski (at Hamburg) and Davie Selke (v Mainz) both actually were in the starting line-up while Levent Aycicek, Julian von Haacke and Torben Rehfeldt all have made their premieres on the game rosters. "It's positive that Robin has that courage. That helps the young players move forward," said manager Thomas Eichin. "We still have others there who are really good and you can look forward to them."

Aaron Hunt: Much more than just goals and assists

Way at the beginning, more than 12 years ago, the skinny, homesick teenager Aaron Hunt was looking to head back home after just a few days in the Werder academy. His youth coach back then, Bernd Pfeiffer, however got into his car and drove after the youngster all the way back to his home in Goslar and convinced him to not give up this chance. Aaron Hunt has been a Green-White ever since - and he's getting better and better. When the team finds itself in a difficult situation, the public criticism quickly focuses on Hunt. But the 27-year-old has learned to face it - both on and off the pitch. In the past few more difficult years, the deputy captain has grown into his exemplary function. These leadership qualities were also never as important as last season when the playmaker did much more than collect 11 goals and six assists to stave off relegation. The Werder supporters selected Hunt as Bremen's Player of the Season 2012-13. It's no wonder that his new coach, Robin Dutt, would not stop saying how essential Hunt is for the team. "Aaron decides completely on his own which spaces he fills, whether he falls back or pushes forward. That is my responsibility which I give to him," said Dutt. Hunt recently played his 200th Bundesliga match in the Green-Whites' jersey. And his sporting and human qualities are needed more than ever before.

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