Philipp Wollscheid Explained

Philipp Wollscheid
Fullname:Philipp Johannes Wollscheid[1]
Birth Date:6 March 1989
Birth Place:Wadern, Saarland, West Germany
Height:[2]
Position:Centre-back
Youthyears1:1994–1998
Youthclubs1:SV Morscholz
Youthyears2:1998–2002
Youthclubs2:SV Wadrill
Youthyears3:2002–2004
Youthclubs3:VfL Primstal
Youthyears4:2004–2006
Youthclubs4:SV Morscholz
Youthyears5:2006–2007
Youthclubs5:SG Noswendel-Wadern
Years1:2007–2008
Caps1:18
Goals1:0
Years2:2008–2009
Clubs2:1. FC Saarbrücken
Caps2:30
Goals2:3
Years3:2009–2010
Clubs3:1. FC Nürnberg II
Caps3:40
Goals3:1
Years4:2010–2012
Clubs4:1. FC Nürnberg
Caps4:52
Goals4:5
Years5:2012–2015
Clubs5:Bayer Leverkusen
Caps5:51
Goals5:2
Years6:2014–2015
Clubs6:1. FSV Mainz 05 (loan)
Caps6:5
Goals6:0
Years7:2015
Clubs7:Stoke City (loan)
Caps7:12
Goals7:0
Years8:2015–2017
Clubs8:Stoke City
Caps8:33
Goals8:0
Years9:2016–2017
Clubs9:VfL Wolfsburg (loan)
Caps9:7
Goals9:0
Years10:2017
Clubs10:VfL Wolfsburg II (loan)
Caps10:2
Goals10:0
Years11:2017–2018
Clubs11:Metz
Caps11:0
Goals11:0
Years12:2017–2018
Clubs12:Metz B
Caps12:2
Goals12:0
Totalcaps:252
Totalgoals:11
Nationalyears1:2010
Nationalteam1:Germany U20
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2013
Nationalteam2:Germany
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0

Philipp Johannes Wollscheid (born 6 March 1989) is a German former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.[3]

Wollscheid began his career playing amateur football for various clubs in the Saarland. He progressed to semi-professional level with SV Rot-Weiss Hasborn in 2007 and then 1. FC Saarbrücken. He was released by Saarbrücken in the summer of 2009 and then joined 1. FC Nürnberg following a successful trial. After spending time playing for the second team he broke into the Nürnberg first team and became a regular in the Bundesliga. His performances for Nürnberg saw him transfer to Bayer Leverkusen in July 2012.

Wollscheid was a regular under Sami Hyypiä at Leverkusen in 2012–13 and 2013–14. However, he fell out of favor with new manager Roger Schmidt and joined 1. FSV Mainz 05 on loan in August 2014. Wollscheid joined English side Stoke City on loan in January 2015 which was made permanent at the end of the season. After losing his place at Stoke, Wollscheid had an unsuccessful spell on loan at VfL Wolfsburg in 2016–17. His contract with Stoke was terminated by mutual consent in August 2017 and Wollscheid joined French club Metz. He retired in October 2019.

Club career

Early career

Born in Wadern, Saarland, Wollscheid started his career in the youth teams of various local amateur sides. He made his first team debut in March 2007 for SG Noswendel-Wadern in the Landesliga – then the seventh tier of the German football league system.[4] At the start of the 2007–08 season, he joined SV Rot-Weiss Hasborn in the fifth tier Oberliga, appearing 18 times for the club before moving to 1. FC Saarbrücken six months later.[5] He struggled to make an impact during his 18-month spell at the club, and made many of his 30 league appearances as a substitute.[6] Following Saarbrücken's promotion to the Regionalliga in 2009, Wollscheid decided to look for a new club.

1. FC Nürnberg

He arranged a trial with 1. FC Nürnberg, and subsequently signed a three-year deal with the club.[7] Having not trained at a youth academy like many other young footballers, Wollscheid admitted to knowing little about tactics before he joined Nürnberg, and had little idea about how a back four operates.[8] He spent his first season at the club playing for the club's reserve team, making 26 Regionalliga appearances and scoring one goal.

He rose to prominence during the 2010–11 Bundesliga season, making his first team debut in a 3–1 defeat against 1. FC Kaiserslautern in November 2010. He soon became a regular starter for Nürnberg and finished the year ranked third among all Bundesliga defenders, according to kickers player ratings.[9]

Bayer Leverkusen

In November 2011, Wollscheid agreed a five-year deal with Bayer Leverkusen beginning from summer 2012.[10] In the 2012–13 season under the management of Sami Hyypiä, Wollscheid played 40 times scoring three goals as Leverkusen finished in third position. He struggled with injury and form in 2013–14, making 27 appearances as Hyypiä was sacked in April 2014. His replacement Roger Schmidt opted for the pairing of Emir Spahić and Ömer Toprak and Wollscheid was free to find another club.[11]

Mainz loan

In the summer of 2014, Wollscheid joined 1. FSV Mainz 05 on loan for the 2014–15 season.[12] He played five times for Mainz before leaving in January 2015.

Stoke City

He ended his loan with Mainz in January 2015 and joined English Premier League side Stoke City, on another temporary deal through to the end of the season, with an option to buy him based on his performances.[13] He made his debut for Stoke on 11 January 2015 in a 3–0 defeat away at Arsenal.[14] In his second match against Leicester City, Wollscheid played alongside Marc Muniesa as Stoke secured a 1–0 victory.[15] His performance earned him praise from manager Mark Hughes.[16] However his performances dropped off and he was criticized for poor performances against Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland.[17] He went and played a total of 14 games for Stoke in 2014–15.

On 21 May 2015, Stoke announced that they had taken up their option to buy Wollscheid for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £2.75 million on a three-year contract.[18] [19] [20] Wollscheid was a key member of Mark Hughes's squad in 2015–16, playing 39 times as the Potters finished in ninth position and reached the semi-final of the League Cup.

Wolfsburg (loan)

On 31 August 2016, Philipp Wollscheid signed for Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg from Stoke City on a season-long loan, with a purchase option at the end of the season.[21] His time at Wolfsburg started terribly after playing just two matches he was suspended by the club for a training ground row with head coach Dieter Hecking.[22] After Hecking was sacked Wollschied's return to training was disrupted by a severe case of tinnitus which required ear surgery.[23] He regained his fitness and played some matches for the reserve team in the Regionalliga.[24] He returned to the first team under new head coach Andries Jonker as Wolfsburg beat Eintracht Braunschweig in the relegation play-off to remain in the Bundesliga.[25]

Metz

Wollscheid joined French club Metz on 30 August 2017, after his Stoke contract was cancelled by mutual consent.[26] He left Metz in January 2018 after failing to make a Ligue 1 appearance.[27]

Retirement

Following his release from Metz, Wollscheid returned to his home town of Wadern, and began playing for his friend's successful five-a side futsal team. In an interview in October 2019 Wollscheid revealed that he no longer enjoyed being a professional footballer.—“Had I been able to play without emotion, I would probably have carried on for another six years". “But I realised that I would only be going to work to earn money and I said to myself that cannot be right.” "The football business in general is simply wrong. One day you will be praised by everyone to the sky, the next you are not good enough anymore. I have never been able to endure these ups and downs.”[28] [29]

International career

He represented the German national under-20 football team on one occasion. On 29 May 2013, he made his international debut for Germany national team in a friendly game against Ecuador in Boca Raton, Florida. His second and last cap came three days later in a 3-4 loss against the United States in Washington, D.C..[30]

Style of play

Wollscheid played as a centre-back and has been compared to compatriot Per Mertesacker.

Personal life

Wollscheid grew up supporting 1. FC Kaiserslautern and stated that his dream is to end his playing career at the club.[31]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[32] [33]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
SV Rot-Weiss Hasborn2007–08Oberliga Südwest18000180
1. FC Saarbrücken2008–09Oberliga Südwest30300303
1. FC Nürnberg II2009–10Regionalliga Süd26100261
2010–11Regionalliga Süd14000140
Total40100401
1. FC Nürnberg2010–11Bundesliga19320213
2011–12Bundesliga33230362
Total52550575
Bayer Leverkusen2012–13Bundesliga3122071403
2013–14Bundesliga2003040270
2014–15Bundesliga00000000
Total5125011!1673
Mainz 05 (loan)2014–15Bundesliga500050
Stoke City (loan)2014–15Premier League1202000140
Stoke City2015–16Premier League3102060390
2016–17Premier League20000020
2017–18Premier League00001010
Total4504070560
VfL Wolfsburg (loan)2016–17Bundesliga70002090
VfL Wolfsburg II (loan)2016–17Regionalliga Nord2020
Metz2017–18Ligue 100001010
Metz B2017–18Championnat National 32020
Career total252111408013128712

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[34]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Germany
201320
Total20

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2015 and 31/07/2015. The FA. PDF. 11. 3 October 2015.
  2. Web site: Premier League Player Profile Philipp Wollscheid . . 2015 . Premier League . Barclays Premier League. 15 January 2015.
  3. Web site: Philipp Wollscheid . German . kicker.de . 4 January 2014.
  4. Frank . Linkesch . Auf Kloses Spuren . Kicker Sportmagazin . Olympia-Verlag . German . p. 14 . 28 November 2011 .
  5. Web site: Philipp Wollscheid - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga . Matthias . Arnhold . 1 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . RSSSF.org.
  6. Web site: Saarländer Philipp Wollscheid ist der Senkrechtstarter des 1. FC Nürnberg . Walter . Koster . German . Saarbrücker Zeitung . 25 June 2011 . 23 December 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131219234507/https://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/aufmacher/lokalnews/Saarbruecken;art27857,3820027,0#.TvPbv1beLKc . 19 December 2013 .
  7. Web site: Wollscheid's long and winding road . Bundesliga . Johannes . Fischer . 27 October 2011 . 23 December 2011.
  8. Web site: Von Viererkette hatte ich wenig Ahnung . German . SPOX . 25 March 2011 . 6 January 2012.
  9. Web site: 1. Bundesliga – Topspieler . kicker.de . 28 July 2012 . German.
  10. Web site: 'Jewel' Wollscheid to join Leverkusen . UEFA . 24 November 2011 . 21 December 2011.
  11. Web site: Philipp Wollscheid looks to rebuild promising career after Bayer Leverkusen slump. Just Football. 20 January 2015.
  12. Web site: Wollscheid joins the 05ers. Mainz 05. 2 January 2015.
  13. Web site: Wollscheid Completes Potters Switch. Stoke City F.C. 7 January 2015.
  14. Web site: Arsenal 3-0 Stoke. BBC Sport. 20 January 2015.
  15. Web site: Leicester City 0, Stoke City 1: Star man is (not) Bojan. Stoke Sentinel. 20 January 2015.
  16. Web site: We Controlled It - Hughes. Stoke City F.C. 20 January 2015.
  17. Web site: Stoke City Extra Time: Don't burden Philipp Wollscheid with Robert Huth exit. Stoke Sentinel. 6 August 2015.
  18. Web site: Philipp's A Potter. Stoke City. 21 May 2015.
  19. Web site: Philipp Wollscheid completes Stoke City transfer. BBC Sport. 21 May 2015.
  20. Web site: Stoke sign Philipp Wollscheid to permanent deal after loan spell. ESPN FC. 3 September 2015. 21 May 2015.
  21. Web site: Wollscheid waves goodbye. Stoke City F.C.. 31 August 2016. 31 August 2016.
  22. Web site: Philipp Wollscheid returning early from Germany?. Stoke Sentinel. 30 May 2017.
  23. Web site: Philipp Wollscheid's nightmare loan spell takes new twist with tinnitus. Stoke Sentinel. 30 May 2017.
  24. Web site: Crowds under 350 and flowing beer: What Philipp Wollscheid can expect in German regional league. Stoke Sentinel. 30 May 2017.
  25. Web site: Stoke's Philipp Wollscheid ends turbulent loan spell with firework, pitch invasion – and a win. Stoke Sentinel. 30 May 2017.
  26. Web site: WOLLSCHEID BIDS FAREWELL. Stoke City. 30 August 2017.
  27. Web site: Philipp Wollscheid terminates his contract with FC Metz. Le Equipe. 6 January 2018.
  28. Web site: Philipp Wollscheid: "Never felt like a dream" . muensterschezeitung.de . 23 April 2020.
  29. Web site: 'It would just be for the money' – Ex-Stoke City defender opens up on career and why he retired at 28 . Stoke Sentinel . 23 April 2020.
  30. Web site: Philipp Wollscheid - International Appearances . Matthias . Arnhold . 1 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . RSSSF.org.
  31. Stoke City Official Matchday Magazine 13 January 2016 v Norwich City
  32. Web site: Philipp Wollscheid. Fussballdaten. 2 January 2015.
  33. Web site: P. WOLLSCHEID. Soccerway. 2 January 2015.
  34. Web site: Wollscheid, Philipp. National-Football-Teams. 8 September 2015.