Kevin Trapp is a creature of habit on the soccer field. The Frankfurt goalkeeper particularly likes to save penalties. Like winning the Europa League final against Glasgow Rangers at the end of the season. And as recently in the DFB Cup first round game in Magdeburg (4:0). Trapp successfully continued where he left off in the past year.
As a goalkeeper you have less to lose than a player, said the 32-year-old in Magdeburg. “I’d rather be looking forward to it than worrying about the ball going in.” That’s Trapp’s mental recipe for success when it comes to defending against penalties. He has become a nuisance for the shooters.
For Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner it is a great pleasure to know that Trapp is in his own ranks. “I’m glad Kevin is in such good shape, he’s very important to us – just like Manuel Neuer is to Bayern.” Glasner did it skillfully. One day before the season opening game this Friday (8.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga, on Sat.1 and DAZN) at home against the German champions, he did not want to decide who of the two was the better goalkeeper.
Glasner, the diplomat: “Germany has a lot of good goalkeepers. Both are good goalkeepers,” said the Austrian, addressing the importance of Trapp and Neuer as “people and athletes” in their respective clubs. “Trapp was our captain in Magdeburg, and Manuel Neuer is Bayern’s captain.” That says it all.
Trapp is the face of unity. Frankfurt’s flagship at home and abroad. Now a man of the world – he also makes fashion – who played in the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain and speaks English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian. This predestines him in the Frankfurt multi-nation squad for the role of communicator and liaison player.
“Kevin leading the boys”
Trapp is a team player who takes care of his fellow players. It doesn’t push it to the fore. However, he takes responsibility when he deems it necessary and when it is demanded of him. Trapp is “extremely important as a guy,” sports director Markus Krösche praises the leader. “Kevin also leads the boys in the dressing room.”
According to Krösche – he made this judgment in May – Trapp is the best German goalkeeper. In the vote for footballer of the year by the “Kicker” sports magazine, the native of the Saarland came third. In front of him were two field players: Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku (first place) and Robert Lewandowski, who left Bayern for Barcelona. Trapp is the goalkeeper of the year. The highest award.
Trapp made another leap forward between the posts in the pre-season. Trapp was in great form, especially in the Europa League. In series he offered worth seeing parades. The goalkeeper, who didn’t miss a second in the second-highest European competition, played a major role in supporting his team.
Trapp’s start in the Bundesliga, on the other hand, was not very convincing. He faced criticism. Ironically, in the away game against Bayern on the seventh day of the game, Trapp surpassed himself. At 2-1 he drove Bayern to despair with his defensive power. With ten repelled shots on goal, Trapp set his Bundesliga record at the time.
Since then, the Frankfurt frontman has been at the top level and is a guarantee of consistency. He is present in the penalty area and directs the people in front with a lot of care. In the second leg in Frankfurt, Eintracht lost 1-0; but Trapp prevented a major failure.
In his 32 Bundesliga appearances in the past round, he was able to deflect 71 percent of the shots on his goal. Neuer managed 72 percent. The Munich player kept a clean sheet ten times – more than any other goalkeeper.
Neuer’s position in the national team is untouched, even if Trapp keeps Neuer on his toes with good performances. But behind the number one from Munich, Trapp has caught up, who recently even managed a splendid heel trick goal in training. He competes with FC Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen for second place in the pecking order.
With Eintracht, Trapp won the duel against Ter Stegen when the Hessians threw the big favorite out of the competition in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Trapp focuses on the things he can “influence himself”. This is his achievement. And that brought him the highest recognition in the end. That is also a great incentive for Glasner’s key players.
