Home of football statistics and historyThere is only one Lionel Messi just like there was only one Maradona and one Pele, albeit many have come close to reaching their greatness. One of these contenders was Mario Gotze, the prominent star who was set to replace, or shall we say be a Messi clone.
With odds against him, according to various bookmakers, Gotze made it to the high ranks of football, almost, but never quite made the name for himself of reaching the summit. At 28, the football star is set to make his debut with PSV Eindhoven in a match against PEC Zwolle during the weekend. The Question is, will this be the fresh start that he needs so very much?
The Gotze era is quite colourful, but unfortunately due to personal issues in his private life, he ended up most of 2020 being benched instead of playing all in for Borussia Dortmund. Then his contract finally ran out, and this was an exit strategy for him to relaunch his career. The attacking midfielder was a free agent player, and although teams were interested in him, the will to sign him was still not there.
With a player that was set to become the new Messi, you would think that all the prominent European clubs would be ready to snatch him like vultures. One would hope a bidding war would erupt, but nope. The player only signed a 2 year deal with PSV only a few weeks ago.
Career hiccups and frustrations
Let’s have a look at Gotze’s career, and also some of the things that moulded the situation that he currently finds himself in. Let’s rewind to the 2014 World Cup, and go back 6 years. The player scored a winning goal for his country Germany against Argentina, and quickly went from underdog to topdog. Everyone painted him a hero.
That goal, that famous goal had people compare him to Lionel Messi, with his Germany coach Joachim Low even stating that it was high time that Gotze stepped up his game and show the world that he is better than Messi. Potentially this was the start of Gotze’s downfall.
If we look back at Gotze’s career, he started his football career with Borussia Dortmund by joining the junior Academy and flourished. A few weeks prior to when Dortumud met Bayern Munich at the 2013 Champions League finale, he left one team to join the other. Needless to say, this was the talk of the town across the football niche, as everyone thought that if you start a career with a team through their academy, you end your career there. Just like Messi and also many Manchester United players. Not Gotze.
At Bayern Gotze lost his spark, and never displayed the skills that he truly has. The team needed a leader, Gotze did not fill that role. In 2016, Gotze made his way back to his team Dortmund in the hopes of becoming the star that he was destined to be, but his plan once again did not turn out as planned. Injured and prolonged metabolic disorders interfered and Gotze was back to being the underdog, the one player that was supposed to be brilliant, but never was.
The comeback to Dortmund offered him 103 game appearances and only 14 goals over the course of 4 years. The ‘ talent of the century’ was no talent anymore, and hence his contract was not renewed further.
Gotze ended up being a free agent when the transfer window opened up, and this so the player forced himself to train hard by himself and hope for a call from a massive European club. This never materialised for Gotze. The player caught up with the media in September in a plea that stated “I desperately want to win the Champions League once. That’s what drives me every day, in every training session. I don’t want to end my career without that title.”
In the hopes of finding himself a team, Gotze recruited a new agent Fali Ramadani mid way through the transfer window. His profile was raised with many clubs and interest grew for clubs such as Hertha Berlin, FC Cologne and even Bundesliga’s top dogs Bayers Leverkusen. None of these leads materialised. Gotze was hoping to get the 10 million annual salary that he netted at Dortmund, however what Gotze did not realise was he was not a top sought after player anymore. Gotze was a tier 2 player now, that kind of player that fills the gaps in a team. Many teams doubted his fitness, and this potentially could have been the main reason why Gotze failed to have the German deals finalised.
For the love of football…
Only 8 weeks ago PSV Eindhoven’s Manager Roger Schmidt got word of Gotze’s hunt for a club and contacted the player. Schmidt would only hope that Gotze joined his team and did not even think that the player would accept his offer. Schmidt offered Gotze the possibility to fall in love with the sport again in the chilled atmosphere that Eindhoven provided. The signing took place, and just like that Gotze became a PSV player. Bayer Leverkusen’s manager Peter Bosz, was night quite pleased with the signing and stated: ‘’You expect someone like Gotze to play for a major club in a big football country, PSV might be a big club, but in a small football country.”
The move to PSV was not an easy one for Gotze, however football fans are hoping for a Gotze comeback. For the win that Gotze craves, and for the true leader to shine through. After the signing, he thanked the fans, and their ambitions, smiled for the camera and promised to work hard and deliver. Will this materialise? Will Gotze finally shine?
Dutch football is relatively fast paced and Gotze will need some time to adapt to the new way of football that PSV brings to the table. When Schmidt was asked why he signed Gotze, his reply was quite simple, stating that Gotze has the unique gift of uniting a team. Schmidt acknowledged that Gotze needs to get back on the positive mental train and also train as hard as he can to be in top physique. This is the last chance for Gotze to redeem himself and PSV is ready to grant him that chance.
Odds against him according to various bookmakers, but this a good move for Gotze to relaunch his dying career. Being in Germany, Italy or even England is like being in a den of wolves. Gotze’s plans to win the Uefa Champions League might need to be put to the halt as he falls in love with football again and trains his both physical and mental health. We wish Gotze good luck with his new venture, and hope to see his brilliance from now on.
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