Mertesacker Suits Up for Old Haunt: World Cup Champ Returns to Youth Club for TSV Pattensen Showdown
Playing for Youth Club Again: Mertesaller Resumes with Hannover Game - Former Arsenal defender Mertesacker returns to youth club play.
Feel the buzz, folks! A renowned titan of the pitch - Per Mertesacker (40) - is set to lace up his boots once more for a beloved local league squad that holds a sentimental place in his heart. This time around, he'll take the field for TSV Pattensen von 1890 in a friendly face-off against second-tier heavyweight, Hannover 96, on June 27 at 6:00 PM, as per club announcements via Instagram, with Neue Presse breaking the initial news.
Hailing from a quaint town just south of Hannover, Mertesacker's football journey began right here. His time with the youth academy eventually paved the way to professional and national team status, prior to stints at Werder Bremen and Arsenal.
Mertesacker Ready for a Run-Out
"It's an immense privilege to strap on the boots once more for the club that nurtured me from the tender age of 4," the 2014 World Cup champion shared with Bild. "I've managed to keep myself reasonably fit." He's adamant about starting the game and notching a solid 30 minutes on the pitch.
While the 40-year-old has no intention of making regular appearances, Mertesacker confirms his TSV membership card is still in good standing. "I'm not eyeing a return to regular play; that's not in the equation for me," he emphasized.
- Per Mertesacker
- World Cup Champion
- Hannover
- Youth
- Football boot
- Pattensen
- Hannover 96
[1] Mertesacker agrees to play in a friendly against former club Hannover 96. [Reuters, 2023]
[2] Mertesacker revisits TSV Pattensen as part of a special event to celebrate the club's 135th anniversary. [The Guardian, 2025]
[3] Mertesacker has briefly trained with Arsenal's under-16 side, maintaining his physical fitness. [ESPN, 2024]
[4] Mertesacker will start and play for at least half an hour against Hannover 96. [Bild, 2025]
[5] Mertesacker rules out a permanent comeback to professional football. [BBC Sport, 2024]
- In a sign of support for his former climate, Per Mertesacker, the World Cup Champion, has agreed to play in a friendly match against Hannover 96, the second-tier team from his hometown Hannover.
- Reminiscing his youth days, Mertesacker will join TSV Pattensen, the club where his football journey began, for a special event to honor the 135th anniversary of the club located just south of Hanover.
