Werder fans have known for weeks that goalkeeper Tim Wiese will be leaving the club. After seven years, the Green-Whites' fan favourite and German international keeper is heading out of town. WERDER.TV and...
Werder fans have known for weeks that goalkeeper Tim Wiese will be leaving the club. After seven years, the Green-Whites' fan favourite and German international keeper is heading out of town. WERDER.TV and...
Werder fans have known for weeks that goalkeeper Tim Wiese will be leaving the club. After seven years, the Green-Whites' fan favourite and German international keeper is heading out of town. WERDER.TV and WERDER.DE met up with Tim for an exclusive farewell interview in a very special location - Room 208 of the Bremer Parkhotel. "It feels like I have slept here 200 times. This was my second home. I can hardly believe that I will spend my final night here before the Schalke game," said the keeper, who recalled many memories in the interview.
Hello Tim, after your transfer to Werder in the second half of the 2005-06 season, you made your Bundesliga debut in a tragic manner.
Tim Wiese: My first Bundesliga match in Bremen goal lasted 10 minutes. I had to get between the posts after the horrible accident with Andi Reinke, who had Martin Stranzl slide into his face. I had to move around puddles of blood which were in the box. It was a shock for everyone. Stranzl slipped and couldn't help it. Nobody wants to gain an advantage out of that kind of situation. Luckily, Andi recovered. But it was the start for me with Werder. I stayed in goal after that.
You are leaving Werder as an absolute fan favourite. Was that the case right away in your first home match? At the beginning there was a certain scepticism about this young Wiese who was considered a bit conceited and arrogant.
Tim Wiese: I had to develop the relationship to the fans. But of course I am thankful to the Werder fans that they honoured my commitment in that way. I gave 1000 percent and I guess that was recognised. Besides, we the team and the fans experienced some good times. We played Champions League, won the German DFB Cup, played in the UEFA Cup final. (Laughs) We saw each other a lot in the stadium.
Speaking of the Champions League, many still speak about your first two appearances in the competition in spring 2006.
Tim Wiese: You don't need to say any more. The fans especially recall my second Champions League match, the return leg against Juve. I had a super game until the 88th minute. Then I horribly lost that ball. The ball fell out of my arms and right at the feet of Emerson. It was just destiny. That is the prime example that every keeper error makes you look like an idiot. There is no one else behind you who can help you out.
Everyone says you just have to forget about something like that as quickly as possible. We don't want to hear that cliché. Hand on heart, how long did that scene play over and over in your head? Days? Weeks?
Tim Wiese: To be honest, I still think about it today. If it's quiet, if I am alone, then I think (5 sec pause) ... shit! Champions League quarter-final - that would have been the club's biggest success in the Champions League. We were so close. (Reflecting) Sometimes things happen, it's unbelievable. But it is that way. You can't go back and change it.
A highlight came a couple weeks later. Your first North Derby! A 2-1 victory! A showdown against Ailton and in the end qualification for the Champions League!
Tim Wiese: The memories of that are still fresh. It was a very, very hot day. We absolutely had to win. Naldo and Tim Borowski were already there. That was like a frenzy. A wonderful finish to the season.
It was also the farewell match for the famous pink jersey, which had been making news in the Bundesliga
Tim Wiese: That was also a side story and a highlight of the early times. I would have never thought that a jersey could spark so many emotions. Werder picked out this pink jersey for me which I was supposed to wear because it was to be sold. But honestly, I didn't think it was that bad. Maybe it was a bit too flashy. Maybe a bit more dusky pink would have been better. But Germany was not yet ready for that while entire teams played in pink in other countries.
It that the craziest jersey which you have worn until now?
Tim Wiese: Yeah, that was a highlight. Unfortunately I never kept one. That would be a nice farewell gift from Werder.
