He’s a new player in the squad for European Championship qualifier against Gibraltar on Friday (20:45 CET) in Nuremburg and for the friendly against European Champions Spain on Tuesday (20:45 CET.) When Germany manager Joachim Löw announced his squad, Jonas Hector was the only player to receive his first call-up to the national side. A remarkable career has now reached a climax.
Hector played for his hometown club SV Auersmacher in the Oberliga and he had a trial with Bayern München’s second team. The step up to a big club came quite late for the 24-year-old, as he went from 1. FC Köln’s second team into the first team squad. After only eleven Bundesliga games, he has now been called-up to the Germany squad for the first time. Jonas Hector gave an interview to DFB.de’s Steffen Lüdeke about his experience with the World Champions.
DFB.de: Mr. Hector, the team watched “Die Mannschaft” on Monday. Where did the newest member of the DFB-Team spend his evening?
Jonas Hector: At home in Köln. I had a relatively quiet evening and was looking forward to what was to come.
DFB.de: How well did you sleep? How excited were you ahead of your first time with the national team?
Hector: Usually I sleep pretty well and I didn’t have many problems last night. The whole thing is an unbelievable story for me. I was called-up after only eleven Bundesliga games and now I’m surrounded by World Champions. That’s incredible. Obviously, you’re always nervous the night before.
DFB.de: You were pre-warned by your manager Peter Stöger ahead of your call-up from Joachim Löw. So you were prepared when the phone rang. Can you describe what thoughts were going through your head when you were waiting?
Hector: I wanted to be sure that the manager wasn’t messing with me. I came back from the training ground and when I got to reception, I saw that I had a voicemail. I then tried to ring the manager back, but I didn’t have any luck. But eventually we got through and we spoke for a short time. It all came as a surprise to me. I would never have thought that I would have had the chance to be in the squad so quickly.
DFB.de: Can you imagine what went on in your hometown Auersmacher when they heard the news?
Hector: My parents and my brother still live there. I got all the news from them. A lot has gone on for them over the last few days. They have received a lot of calls, a lot of congratulations as the whole town is excited for both them and me.
DFB.de: You have had a rather unusual career up until now. Your plan wasn’t to be a footballer. What did you originally have planned with your live?
Hector: For a long time, it looked like I wouldn’t make it as a professional footballer. Therefore, I was set on starting a degree after my A-Levels. Nothing was fixed, but it would probably have been in something like BWL or sports management.
DFB.de: You flew in under the radar but that’s not the case now. You have never played for one of the junior national teams but you went to the DFB base camp training in Saarland. How much did that help your career?
Hector: It was always good to be able to train with the best talents in your region for a week. The level was higher and so was the quality of the players. I picked up fresh impetus from the sessions there and I was always excited about the training and the variation.
DFB.de: For a long time you were a forward and you played as a classic playmaker when you were younger. But now you play at left-back. Do you agree that your transformation from a striker to a midfielder to defender was decisive in you being where you are today?
Hector: Yes. I’m quite sure that I wouldn’t be playing in the Bundesliga if I was still a more attacking player. And I definitely wouldn’t be in the Germany team. I believe that the further back on the pitch I go, the further I go in my career.
DFB.de: This transformation has led to you being called-up to the DFB-Team. But there is one negative aspect: today is the 11th of November- the carnival starts today and you aren’t in Köln.
Hector: That’s true. But there are a lot worse reasons to not be able to celebrate the carnival (he laughs).
DFB.de: What do you intend to do with your time with the DFB-Team?
Hector: I want to come here and get to know the people, the coaching staff, my teammates and the support staff. I’ll get stuck in at training and hopefully learn a lot. And I also want to enjoy the whole thing.
DFB.de: It’s only been a few hours, but what are your first impressions of the squad? How good is it for you that you already know a player from Köln in Lukas Podolski?
Hector: I know Lukas. Fitness instructor Benjamin Kugel is also from Köln. I know that I can speak to both of them if I have any questions. But I can say that I already feel comfortable here. Everyone has made it easy for me and they’ve all welcomed me. So it can definitely continue like that.
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He’s a new player in the squad for European Championship qualifier against Gibraltar on Friday (20:45 CET) in Nuremburg and for the friendly against European Champions Spain on Tuesday (20:45 CET.) When Germany manager Joachim Löw announced his squad, Jonas Hector was the only player to receive his first call-up to the national side. A remarkable career has now reached a climax.
Hector played for his hometown club SV Auersmacher in the Oberliga and he had a trial with Bayern München’s second team. The step up to a big club came quite late for the 24-year-old, as he went from 1. FC Köln’s second team into the first team squad. After only eleven Bundesliga games, he has now been called-up to the Germany squad for the first time. Jonas Hector gave an interview to DFB.de’s Steffen Lüdeke about his experience with the World Champions.
DFB.de: Mr. Hector, the team watched “Die Mannschaft” on Monday. Where did the newest member of the DFB-Team spend his evening?
Jonas Hector: At home in Köln. I had a relatively quiet evening and was looking forward to what was to come.
DFB.de: How well did you sleep? How excited were you ahead of your first time with the national team?
Hector: Usually I sleep pretty well and I didn’t have many problems last night. The whole thing is an unbelievable story for me. I was called-up after only eleven Bundesliga games and now I’m surrounded by World Champions. That’s incredible. Obviously, you’re always nervous the night before.
DFB.de: You were pre-warned by your manager Peter Stöger ahead of your call-up from Joachim Löw. So you were prepared when the phone rang. Can you describe what thoughts were going through your head when you were waiting?
Hector: I wanted to be sure that the manager wasn’t messing with me. I came back from the training ground and when I got to reception, I saw that I had a voicemail. I then tried to ring the manager back, but I didn’t have any luck. But eventually we got through and we spoke for a short time. It all came as a surprise to me. I would never have thought that I would have had the chance to be in the squad so quickly.
DFB.de: Can you imagine what went on in your hometown Auersmacher when they heard the news?
Hector: My parents and my brother still live there. I got all the news from them. A lot has gone on for them over the last few days. They have received a lot of calls, a lot of congratulations as the whole town is excited for both them and me.
DFB.de: You have had a rather unusual career up until now. Your plan wasn’t to be a footballer. What did you originally have planned with your live?
Hector: For a long time, it looked like I wouldn’t make it as a professional footballer. Therefore, I was set on starting a degree after my A-Levels. Nothing was fixed, but it would probably have been in something like BWL or sports management.
DFB.de: You flew in under the radar but that’s not the case now. You have never played for one of the junior national teams but you went to the DFB base camp training in Saarland. How much did that help your career?
Hector: It was always good to be able to train with the best talents in your region for a week. The level was higher and so was the quality of the players. I picked up fresh impetus from the sessions there and I was always excited about the training and the variation.
DFB.de: For a long time you were a forward and you played as a classic playmaker when you were younger. But now you play at left-back. Do you agree that your transformation from a striker to a midfielder to defender was decisive in you being where you are today?
Hector: Yes. I’m quite sure that I wouldn’t be playing in the Bundesliga if I was still a more attacking player. And I definitely wouldn’t be in the Germany team. I believe that the further back on the pitch I go, the further I go in my career.
DFB.de: This transformation has led to you being called-up to the DFB-Team. But there is one negative aspect: today is the 11th of November- the carnival starts today and you aren’t in Köln.
Hector: That’s true. But there are a lot worse reasons to not be able to celebrate the carnival (he laughs).
DFB.de: What do you intend to do with your time with the DFB-Team?
Hector: I want to come here and get to know the people, the coaching staff, my teammates and the support staff. I’ll get stuck in at training and hopefully learn a lot. And I also want to enjoy the whole thing.
DFB.de: It’s only been a few hours, but what are your first impressions of the squad? How good is it for you that you already know a player from Köln in Lukas Podolski?
Hector: I know Lukas. Fitness instructor Benjamin Kugel is also from Köln. I know that I can speak to both of them if I have any questions. But I can say that I already feel comfortable here. Everyone has made it easy for me and they’ve all welcomed me. So it can definitely continue like that.
