Sport
Interview: Catching Up with Karl-Heinz Jager
At the age of 21, FC Teussen Stelburg and Siovanija and Teusland national team centre-back Karl-Heinz Jager has already earned many achievements. The President’s Cup winner with FC Teussen Stelburg, and last season’s Republikaliga Player of the Year, however, has his heights set a little higher: “I want to lift the Republikaliga trophy, and after that play in our first World Cup.”
Stepping into the home of Jager’s parents in suburban Stelburg, you get a sense that not much has changed for the star defender. “Yeah, I still live at home. Some of the lads laugh at me, of course, but it’s convenient anyway. And I’m not the type that’s downtown every weekend or that, so it’s fine by me.” The wall in his room is adorned with football shirts: his first international cap and President’s Cup final shirt being neighbours to one from the Stelburg Eagles U12. Medals from youth tournaments sit alongside his Cup winner’s medal. “Haven’t done much redecorating! I like it though, it reminds me of where I came from.”
Jager’s road to the top is the near-cliche story of many footballers. His father, Paul, tells us that “You could see from when he was only maybe 9 playing that he was just on a different level. He actually played in midfield at first, but when he went to the Teussen academy they moved him to centre back.” Jager quickly became a rising star at that position, playing with players 2 years older than himself. The Stelburg Sun ran a profile on him at the age of 15, calling him ‘Teussen’s Next Hope’. Fans flocked to the Teussen U-17 matches just to see him. “It was surreal, you know, and there was definitely a bit of pressure. The guys at the academy did a really good job of keeping me focused though, and of course I have to credit my parents for that as well. At the age of 18, the call came from the senior side.
What was his reaction to getting the call? “Haha, well, I was obviously excited! I knew I’d get my chance at some point, but I didn’t expect it to come so early. The lads made me feel at home immediately though, and it was nice to have a few other young guys around the team at the same time like Ewald (Heuser) and Lukas (Tauscher). Then of course there’s Thorsten (Kramer), he did a lot for me that first season.” Jager’s play was stellar, and fans and coaches quickly realized he was the real deal. A series of poor results against other top teams, however, consigned Teussen to a 6th placed finish. “That was tough. You grow up watching Teussen, and really, you expect us to be challenging for the title every year. It felt horrible to be so far off the mark, we all felt like we were letting the fans down a bit.” Another call, however, would soon come for Jager.
“It was probably only about a week or so after the last game of that season that Gavin called,” says Jager about his first senior national team call-up. “That one was even more unexpected! Again, I felt that my chance was going to come, but you never really expect it still. Not too long after that, I was on the plane to Mriin for the AOCAF.” Jager didn’t begin the tournament as a starter, but he ended it as a key part of the national team’s starting XI, where he’s been ever since. “I just got lucky enough to get a chance, and I took it as far as I knew I could.” The Quarterfinal run was a brilliant start for the young centre back’s international career.
Last season, Jager and Teussen recovered to put in a strong title challenge. “Yeah, it was a lot of fun. We were actually dark horses for the first time I can think of, and we put up a great fight. Obviously it hurt to lose it in the end, especially to local rivals, but we’ll be stronger for it.” Teussen finished just 1 point adrift of crosstown rivals 1912 Stelburg. 2nd was much higher than anyone expected for the black and gold, especially after the departure of Thorsten Kramer. “That almost helped us in a way, you know, because everyone wanted to prove themselves. Thorsten was sending us messages all year too, wishing us luck and congratulating us and all that.” The Goldhorns, with Jager in the lineup, also reached the Quarterfinal of another AOCAF, this time losing to Cosumar by a disappointing result of 6-2. “I felt we could’ve played better in that match. It was disappointing to go out that way. Cosumar are a great side, of course, but there is some regret about that match in particular: we didn’t help ourselves at all, and in matches like that you have to.”
It wasn’t all disappointment, however, for Jager. He was named Republikaliga Player of the Year after a close vote between himself and 1912 Stelburg and Mytanija star Jasno Odonelec. “It’s a great honour, for sure. I’ve had the pleasure of talking to Jasno a bit, and the displeasure of playing against him as well! He’s an exceptional player, and he would’ve been every bit deserving of the award. I didn’t really think I had much of a chance, you know, those awards often go to forward players but obviously the voters recognized the work I was doing and that of my teammates.” Jager led Teussen to finishing with the best defensive record in the top flight, and was seen as playing a massive part in Teussen’s 2nd place finish.
There was also the President’s Cup win for Jager and Teussen, earned through a 2-1 extra time win over FC St. Jakob. The road to the final also included an exceptional win on penalties over 1912 Stelburg in the Stelburg Derby. “It was a memorable campaign for us all, and that trophy meant a lot for us. This was the first real season for the new generation of Teussen, and with a start like that I’m sure there’s more to come for us.”
With World Cup 83 Qualifiers also in full swing, many of our questions turned to the national team. What’s it like to play with players like Thorsten Kramer, Viktor Dimitrov and Michael Ribbeck? “When you get to that level, everyone brings something unique and everyone is obviously exceptionally talented. I have to say, Michael is one of the best players I’ve seen, the way he shoots the ball and his skill on it. I hate defending against him in the league, haha, so it’s nice to be able to watch him work for me instead! Viktor, you just feel so confident anytime he has the ball, and Thorsten obviously is one of my best mates so it’s great to play with him again.” How has centre back partner Raphael Klopfer helped you? “More than I could ever say in an interview. Rafa’s been amazing, on the pitch and off the pitch. He’s taught me a lot, and you learn something from him every day. He’s our captain, and he’s like a general out there. Knows so much about the game. I’m sure you’ll see him on the touchline one day.”
The Qualifying campaign has seen a mix of results so far: solid wins from the Goldhorns, but a few draws as well that perhaps the team would like to take back. The recent 1-1 with New North Carolina would be an example of that: “You can’t blame anyone for that, but it was not a day we’re proud of.” The Goldhorns sit 2nd in Group H, tied with the Squornshelan Remnant States on points but ahead on head to head result. What do the Goldhorns need to hold onto that second spot and reach the playoff? “Perfection. We can’t ask for anything less. There’s 3 games left, 2 of them at home, and everyone needs to bring their absolute best for all of them.” Is it too much to ask for perfection when an away date with The Holy Empire remains? “That one’s going to be tough, but anything can happen in football. Like I said, we need to bring our best for each and every game. We can’t pick and choose, ‘oh this one’s more winnable than that one’. No. They’re all winnable if we give everything.”
The final, and most important question of all: Can Siovanija and Teusland qualify for its first World Cup? “Well, that’s the million tolar question isn’t it? Obviously there’s still 3, possibly more if we reach the playoffs, matches to go before we have the final answer. What I can tell you is that there’s definitely a belief in the room that we can go as far as we want.” Hopefully that ‘far’ is a short flight over to Banija or the Equestrian States.
Karl-Heinz Jager is a centre back for FC Teussen Stelburg and the Siovanija and Teusland national team. He’s been a top performer for the Goldhorns throughout World Cup 83 Qualifiers, and was chosen as the STFA’s nomination for the Team of the Tournament. The Goldhorns’ next match is at home, as they take on Anollasia at the Energija-Arena. It is sure to be an important match in the race for World Cup dreams. Come on you Goldhorns!
Match Report
Siovanija and Teusland 1-1 New North Carolina, @ New North Carolina
Lineup: Sveteikov; Karapetrov, Thierse, Klopfer, Daschner (Helmke 85’); Tauscher, Ivancic (Kramer 75’), V. Dimitrov, Kruger; Reichwein, Kynev (Ribbeck 60’)
Goals: Ludwig Reichwein 63’
Stelburger Zeitung Man of the Match: Ludwig Reichwein