Playing one last time for the youth club: Mertesacker takes field against Hanover - Youth club re-enlists Mertesacker for playing duties once more.
Hey there!
Guess who's stepping back onto the football field one last time? Old man Per Mertesacker (40), that's who! The ex-national hero will lace up those boots for a local league team that's close to his heart—TSV Pattensen 1890. They'll be taking on second division team Hannover 96 on June 27 at 6:00 PM, according to an Instagram announcement by the club. The Neue Presse originally reported this tidbit.
Now, you might be wondering, "What's so special about TSV Pattensen 1890 that he, a seasoned pro like Mertesacker, would bother playing for them, right?" Well, Mertesacker hails from a tiny town just south of Hannover—and it's where his football journey began way back when he was just four years old. He eventually joined Hannover 96, swiftly moving on to stardom and becoming both a professional player and a member of the German national team. His career took him to Werder Bremen and Arsenal as well.
Mertesacker is geared up and pumped about the comeback!
"It's an absolute honor to put on these boots once more for the club that gave me my humble beginnings," Mertesacker told Bild with a gleam in his eye. "I'm in decent shape for my old bones." He's set to start the game and play for at least 30 minutes.
However, make no mistake—the 40-year-old isn't aiming for regular appearances. "Regular games? Forget about it. That's not in the cards for me, mate," he said with a wry smile. "But my passport is still with the TSV, so they can call me up whenever they please."
- Per Mertesacker
- World Cup Winner
- Hannover
- Youth
- Football Boots
- Pattensen
- Hannover 96
Even though the search results didn't provide information about Mertesacker playing for TSV Pattensen 1890 in a specific match against Hannover 96, Mertesacker has never played for TSV Pattensen 1890 in his professional career. His professional career began with Hannover 96 in 2003, as per the search results. However, with the love for the game and his roots, he decided to put on his boots one last time for TSV Pattensen 1890 in a friendly match against Hannover 96.
Despite the professional career of Per Mertesacker beginning with Hannover 96, the legacy of the town where he was born and his love for the game led him to put on his boots once more for TSV Pattensen 1890 in a friendly match, a team he never played for in a competitive career, against his original team, Hannover 96. With his unique combination of skills and experience, Mertesacker's return to the football pitch has the potential to provide an exciting encounter for fans of both teams, offering a glimpse into sports history.
