Martin Harnik recently received the Torjägerkanone® for everyone – his first kicker cannon. The former Bundesliga striker talks about legendary teammates, brutal opponents and his goals against Manuel Neuer.
Dangerous: Martin Harnik scored a total of 53 Bundesliga goals for VfB Stuttgart. imago sports photography service
GOAL CANNON® FOR EVERYONE
Since 1969, the kicker has awarded the top scorer cannon to the most successful Bundesliga striker of the season. For five years there has also been a trophy for the amateur sector from kicker, Volkswagen and DFB. You can find the current status up to the 11th league under this link. In our interview series, top scorers talk about their careers. This time a special episode with Martin Harnik, winner of the “Top scorer cannon for all” with TuS Dassendorf (5th league) last season.
Which club did you start with?
My first club is now called SC Vierund Marschlande. When I started at the age of five, it was at TSV Kirchwerder. It later merged with SV Ochsenwerder/Moorfleet to form SC VM. Max Kruse came there later in his youth.
Have you always been a goal scorer?
Yes always. I was a striker right from the start and scored a lot of goals right from the start.
To this day I am one of the top 10 goalscorers who have scored the most against Neuer.
Who was your role model?
I didn’t have a real role model because I was never the classic football fan as a child. Above all, I loved kicking myself and over time I orientated myself towards different types of strikers. First it was Roy Präger, later Michael Preetz, then Miroslav Klose. I was able to stand on the pitch with him at the start of my professional career in Bremen. That was really special.
What was your most important goal?
The most important goal was on the 33rd matchday of the 2014/15 season in the relegation battle, the winning goal in the 2-1 win against HSV. We were 1-0 down, then came back and the goal was brutally important. I would say my goal to make it 2-1, also for VfB, in the cup semi-final against Freiburg in a positive sense, because it got us to the final in Berlin.
Who was your best teammate?
Diego at Werder. A classic Brazilian. He was almost invisible in training, but in the game he was just there, so free, so carefree and so brilliant. I was impressed by the lightness of his head and legs.
Who was your best opponent?
I would like to name a duo. Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig. It was my second time at Werder and I was a striker against them – and it was just unfair…
At almost 37 years old, I’m not outrunning everyone in the big leagues, but I don’t have the feeling of a huge speed deficit.
Who was the best goalkeeper?
I really played against a lot of people, both in the Bundesliga and in international matches with Austria. In the beginning it was against Oliver Kahn, and for years against Manuel Neuer. And it sounds crazy, but there wasn’t actually a goalkeeper who I felt like I couldn’t score against. On the contrary: to this day I am one of the top 10 goalscorers who have scored the most against Neuer.
What was your strength?
Speed and game intelligence. That is still the case today. At almost 37 years old, I’m not outrunning everyone in the big leagues, but I don’t have the feeling of a huge speed deficit.
What was your biggest weakness?
The duels one against one.
Who is the best goalscorer of all time?
At the Bundesliga level for me Robert Lewandowski, worldwide Cristiano Ronaldo.
Which amateur club are you still associated with today?
I still feel very connected to my hometown club SC Vier- und Marschlande. Since I still play for TuS Dassendorf, I’m rarely at the pitch as a spectator, but I still follow the results and developments very closely.
For his 46 league goals in the 2022/23 season, Martin Harnik was honored with the “Top Scorer for All” by kicker reporter Sebastian Wolff in March. The subsequent handover took place in front of the sports center of his club TuS Dassendorf near Hamburg. The former Bundesliga striker was unable to take part in the official ceremony in the autumn.
Born on June 10, 1987 in Hamburg, Harnik began playing football as a five-year-old at TSV Kirchwerder (later SC Vier- und Marschlande) and moved to Werder Bremen in 2006. There he made his debut in the Bundesliga and moved to VfB Stuttgart in 2010, where he had his most successful time until 2016. After stints at Hannover 96 (2016 to 2018) and again at Werder Bremen (2018/19), Harnik ended his professional career at HSV in 2020 after a total of 240 Bundesliga games (67 goals) and 83 second division games (33 goals). The Austrian also played 68 international matches (15 goals).
2024-03-25 08:44:35
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