Latest news with #Mertesacker
Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Arsenal legend, 40, comes out of retirement for 30-min cameo in anniversary match saying ‘I'm halfway in shape'
Former player has helped the Gunners out since hanging up his boots GUNS RELOADED Arsenal legend, 40, comes out of retirement for 30-min cameo in anniversary match saying 'I'm halfway in shape' ARSENAL legend Per Mertesacker came out of retirement to feature in an anniversary match. The defender had a lengthy career but only featured for three clubs - Arsenal, Werder Bremen and Hannover. Advertisement 1 Per Mertesacker made his comeback in a friendly Credit: Getty - Contributor His youth career was spent at German regional side TSV Pattensen 1890, who celebrated 135 years as a club this week. To mark the occasion they held a friendly against Hannover, losing 3-0. Mertesacker lined up for the semi-pro side - marking his football comeback after retiring in 2017. The centre-back started the match but lasted just 30 minutes. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL I'VE GOT LEW Hamilton gives F1 rival lift on his private jet after he was booked on EasyJet He said ahead of kick-off: "I'm halfway in shape." Mertesacker played down his chances of a permanent stay, adding: "That's out of the question for me. But my passport is still with TSV, I think." The German is still tied down to Arsenal as director of the club's academy. Mertesacker played 221 games for the club between 2011 and 2018 before moving into a coaching role with the Gunners' youth teams. Advertisement BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS He previously revealed his plans for the academy, stating: "I believe as an academy we should be in a position to provide those players for the first team in the future. "I am really conscious that alignment means as well that once we get more successful and get back into the Champions League, that is the level for our players to be at. Christian Norgaard to Arsenal LATEST | Transfers Exposed "With the tweaks we are making [in the academy] and becoming younger by acquiring talent from the outside to become younger, this is a message to the academy: we need to be world leading. Advertisement "To become that we are on a journey. How close are we? I'm not sure. "We're competing with the best academies in England but also in Europe and the world. I think we're in a good position, but ready to do more."
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Arsenal legend, 40, comes out of retirement for 30-min cameo in anniversary match saying ‘I'm halfway in shape'
ARSENAL legend Per Mertesacker came out of retirement to feature in an anniversary match. The defender had a lengthy career but only featured for three clubs - Advertisement 1 Per Mertesacker made his comeback in a friendly Credit: Getty - Contributor His youth career was spent at German regional side TSV Pattensen 1890, who celebrated 135 years as a club this week. To mark the occasion they held a friendly against Hannover, losing 3-0. Mertesacker lined up for the semi-pro side - marking his football comeback after retiring in 2017. The centre-back started the match but lasted just 30 minutes. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL He said ahead of kick-off: "I'm halfway in shape." Mertesacker played down his chances of a permanent stay, adding: "That's out of the question for me. But my passport is still with TSV, I think." The German is still tied down to Arsenal as director of the club's academy. Mertesacker played 221 games for the club between 2011 and 2018 before moving into a coaching role with the Gunners' youth teams. Advertisement Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS He previously revealed his plans for the academy, stating: "I believe as an academy we should be in a position to provide those players for the first team in the future . "I am really conscious that alignment means as well that once we get more successful and get back into the Champions League, that is the level for our players to be at. Christian Norgaard to Arsenal LATEST | Transfers Exposed "With the tweaks we are making [in the academy] and becoming younger by acquiring talent from the outside to become younger, this is a message to the academy: we need to be world leading. Advertisement "To become that we are on a journey. How close are we? I'm not sure. "We're competing with the best academies in England but also in Europe and the world. I think we're in a good position, but ready to do more."
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
World Cup winner Mertesacker to play one more time for boyhood club
Per Mertesacker, footballer and soccer expert, attends the "Sport Bild" Award 2024 ceremony in Hamburg. Mertesacker will return to the pitch one more time next week to play for his boyhood club TSV Pattensen. Christian Charisius/dpa Former Germany defender Per Mertesacker will return to the pitch one more time next week to play for his boyhood club TSV Pattensen. The northern German amateur side play second division Hanover, where he started his professional career, on June 27 on the occasion of their 135th anniversary. Advertisement "It is a big honour for me to lace my boots one more time for the club where I started at the age of 4," the Bild paper on Thurs quoted Mertesacker as saying. Mertesacker said he was "halfway in shape", hopes to last for around 30 minutes, but is not planning to play on a regular basis again. "It is not supposed to be a Per Mertesacker show but a great experience for TSV," he said. Mertesacker, 40, joined Pattensen at the age of 4 before moving on to Hanover when he was 11. He made his Bundesliga debut for Hanover eight years later and then also played for Werder Bremen and Arsenal where he ended his career in 2018. The 2014 World Cup winner Mertesacker has remained in London as head of Arsenal's academy.
