Firsts, premieres and debuts – even Germany internationals and World Champions started small. How? Where? When Why? Their first coach, their first position, their first goal, their first title – every day over the next week or so, a DFB-Team player will name their top ten personal firsts here on DFB.de. Today it's Dortmund youngster Erik Durm.
My first kit: It was one of 1. FC Kaiserslautern’s jerseys with Ciriaco Sforza on the back that my dad gave me. I often went to the Betzenburg as a kid so that’s why I had that one.
My first club: SG Rieschweiler, the club in my hometown that all my friends from school played for too. My father was a handball player so I should have really gone to handball training. But I didn’t want to. Football was my best friend; it was always there for me.
My first coach: Ewald Sprau. There was no team for my age group when I started at SG. I was allowed to train with the slightly older age groups at the time. I was even one of the ‘giants’ back then and it was really fun. The coach was a good one anyway. Mr Sprau lived close to us and always took me to training.
My first game: The first game that I remember well was a match against Rodalben. It was always a battle for the championship against them. Those games were my first derbies and I always looked forward to them the most.
My first position: I was a striker, a no.9. I always scored the goals during my youth career. Despite that, I’m happy that Jürgen Klopp uses me elsewhere. I like playing as a defender on the flank. It was only through that that I became a Bundesliga player – and now a Germany international and a World Champion.
My first role model: Luís Figo. He played for Real Madrid at the time and he was truly the best footballer for me. His technique, his reading of the game, his intelligence – I always emulated him. When we played games as kids and gave ourselves names, I was always Luís Figo.
My first title: That has to be the F Youth Championship in Pirmasen. Or wait... we were actually indoor champions before that.
My first trip to a stadium: At the Betzenburg. The stadium was only 30km from us and my dad often took the whole family to the games. Miro Klose and Roman Weidenfeller both played for FCK back then and I always sat in the stands as a kid watching them. It was all the more special and unbelievable for me that I was able to be with those players at the World Cup in Brazil.
My first Bundesliga game: I was subbed on for Robert Lewandowski on the first day of the 2013/14 season just before the end in Augsburg. It was a surprise for me as the coach gave me no prior warning. I got really giddy when he called me over.
My first international: It was just before the World Cup against Cameroon. It was all just so exciting. It was something pretty special for me to sing the national anthem. I caught my mother’s eye in the crowd by chance and maintained eye contact. It was moving to see how proud my parents were at that moment. It was very moving!
created by mmc/ot
Firsts, premieres and debuts – even Germany internationals and World Champions started small. How? Where? When Why? Their first coach, their first position, their first goal, their first title – every day over the next week or so, a DFB-Team player will name their top ten personal firsts here on DFB.de. Today it's Dortmund youngster Erik Durm.
My first kit: It was one of 1. FC Kaiserslautern’s jerseys with Ciriaco Sforza on the back that my dad gave me. I often went to the Betzenburg as a kid so that’s why I had that one.
My first club: SG Rieschweiler, the club in my hometown that all my friends from school played for too. My father was a handball player so I should have really gone to handball training. But I didn’t want to. Football was my best friend; it was always there for me.
My first coach: Ewald Sprau. There was no team for my age group when I started at SG. I was allowed to train with the slightly older age groups at the time. I was even one of the ‘giants’ back then and it was really fun. The coach was a good one anyway. Mr Sprau lived close to us and always took me to training.
My first game: The first game that I remember well was a match against Rodalben. It was always a battle for the championship against them. Those games were my first derbies and I always looked forward to them the most.
My first position: I was a striker, a no.9. I always scored the goals during my youth career. Despite that, I’m happy that Jürgen Klopp uses me elsewhere. I like playing as a defender on the flank. It was only through that that I became a Bundesliga player – and now a Germany international and a World Champion.
My first role model: Luís Figo. He played for Real Madrid at the time and he was truly the best footballer for me. His technique, his reading of the game, his intelligence – I always emulated him. When we played games as kids and gave ourselves names, I was always Luís Figo.
My first title: That has to be the F Youth Championship in Pirmasen. Or wait... we were actually indoor champions before that.
My first trip to a stadium: At the Betzenburg. The stadium was only 30km from us and my dad often took the whole family to the games. Miro Klose and Roman Weidenfeller both played for FCK back then and I always sat in the stands as a kid watching them. It was all the more special and unbelievable for me that I was able to be with those players at the World Cup in Brazil.
My first Bundesliga game: I was subbed on for Robert Lewandowski on the first day of the 2013/14 season just before the end in Augsburg. It was a surprise for me as the coach gave me no prior warning. I got really giddy when he called me over.
My first international: It was just before the World Cup against Cameroon. It was all just so exciting. It was something pretty special for me to sing the national anthem. I caught my mother’s eye in the crowd by chance and maintained eye contact. It was moving to see how proud my parents were at that moment. It was very moving!
