Arminia Bielefeld is aiming for direct resurgence

1February 4th of this year: Fabian Klos, for eleven years with 162 goals in 389 competitive games the striker icon of DSC Arminia Bielefeld, announces his departure. Disappointed with his supporting role as second captain after colleague Manuel Prietl, who will wear the armband in the 2021/22 Bundesliga season, disappointed with his commuting existence between the starting eleven and the bank reserve, disappointed with his all too often profileless appearances with only two goals in 25 league games. “The decision has both sporting and private reasons,” says the center forward.

April 2 of this year: Fabian Klos is seriously injured in the game against VfB Stuttgart after his heads collided with his team-mate Alessandro Schöpf. The doctors diagnose a frontal and orbital fracture. A serious injury, identical to that on October 4, 2013, when the native of Gifhorn collided with the Palatinate center forward Mohamadou Idrissou in the 0:3 draw against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. This time, however, there is a fear that the crash could have been the end of Klos’ career.

May 13 of this year: Fabian Klos revokes his declaration of resignation the day before the last Bundesliga appearance of relegated Arminia against RB Leipzig (1-1). The Arminia and her indestructible foreman agree on another year of cooperation. Sports director Samir Arabi says: “After eleven years and his great achievements, Fabian deserves an active farewell on the pitch in the DSC jersey.” Klos becomes almost philosophical: “Life and football show us once again that some things can only be planned to a limited extent are.”

“Pulled extra shifts”

July 16 of this year: Fabian Klos leads his team as captain to the overture of the Bielefeld second division season at SV Sandhausen (1.00 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the second division and on Sky). A few weeks ago, insiders in the club thought a comeback would be conceivable in October at the earliest. But Klos is a professional who knows how to defy the greatest adversity. “He worked extra shifts when the others were lying on the beach ordering drinks,” says Uli Forte, the Italian successor to interim coach Marco Kostmann and successor to Frank Kramer, who was released on April 20th.

For the Swiss-born and socialized Forte, there was “no way around the fact that Klos, who only appears with a specially made carbon mask, is once again the leader of his team”. In the pre-season, the center forward was back to normal as a goalscorer and as a goal setter. It’s quite possible that he and his team will thrive in the familiar atmosphere of the second division, just like in the best of times.

“Hard but warm”

Forte, on the other hand, is breaking new ground. The spirited 48-year-old, whose motto is “tough but hearty”, has wanted to make a name for himself in German professional football for a long time. There have been contacts with Arminia Bielefeld since 2018, when the East Westphalians observed the then committed Swiss right-back Cedric Brunner, whose coach at FC Zurich was Forte. He won the cup competition in Switzerland in 2016 with FC and with Grasshoppers Zurich in 2013. With a dominant attacking football and a mixture of winning and possession football.

Forte, who came from the Swiss second division club Yverdon, would also like to be successful in Bielefeld in a similar way. He thinks the resurgence is feasible. The new coach quickly managed to inspire his squad, which had been completely renewed, especially on the defensive, for the common, high goals.

The departures of goalkeeper Ortega (Manchester City), Brunner (FC Schalke 04), central defender Pieper (Werder Bremen) and Nilsson (St. Louis City SC) should come from Heidenheim, second division experienced new chief of defense Oliver Hüsing, U-21 national player Frederik Jäkel, on loan from RB Leipzig, together with Guilherme Ramos and Andrés Andrade, tried and tested in Bielefeld, as well as Stefanos Kapino in goal, make up for Ortega’s permanent representative.

The attacking department, which is rather weak in the Bundesliga, and proven midfielders such as Prietl, Sebastian Vasiliadis and the filigree Japanese Masaya Okugawa have remained with the Bielefeld team, with the exception of the Austrian wing artist Patrick Wimmer, who switched to VfL Wolfsburg for five million euros. “For me, it’s a dream that comes true here,” says Forte before the start of the new season. It remains to be seen whether he will repeat this after his premiere.