At first, Vitalie Becker said honestly, he didn’t even know where to run. “It was suddenly so loud, my first goal, just speechless,” said the 20-year-old FC Schalke 04 left-back after his team’s 2-0 (1-0) win at Fortuna Düsseldorf, to which he contributed the second goal in the 81st minute. It was his first as a professional footballer. “I’m completely happy, very satisfied,” added Becker.
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There were around 20,000 Royal Blue supporters among the 51,500 spectators in the Düsseldorf Arena – and after Becker realized what he had achieved a few seconds later, he ran straight up to coach Miron Muslic and hugged him. “I’m very grateful to him because I wasn’t on the list before the season. He gives me self-confidence and that helps me. I wanted to show him this gratitude,” said Becker. The young left-back is another fairytale story in this Schalke season, in which one party highlight follows the next.
Goal for Schalke: Vitalie Becker beats goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier with a left-footed shot.
© Anke Waelischmiller/dpa | Anke Waelischmiller
Vitalie Becker is a Schalke player through and through, wore the S04 jersey for the first time at the age of eight and then went through all the youth teams. In 2022 he won the championship title with the U17s. In January 2024 he took part in the professional training camp in Albufeira as a U19 player, and a month later he received a professional contract valid until June 2027. After that, things went downhill for him. In his first year as a senior footballer he didn’t get a chance with the professionals. He missed the first half of the season due to an injury, but in the second half he played 16 games for the regional league team.
Schalke: Murkin is leaving – the big opportunity for Becker
Due to the departure of Derry Murkin (Utrecht), he returned to the professionals to prepare – because Schalke didn’t have the money for a new left-back. Favorite Anton Donkor was already weak at the beginning of Muslic’s time. It was already clear at the training camp in Neustift in the Stubaital that this could be Becker’s season. “It’s a nice Schalke story,” Muslic summed up. “The boy was clearly labeled as ‘he doesn’t have the quality’ like so many other Schalke players. But he invested everything from day one. We are very happy with his development and the path he is taking with us. I am very happy with his first goal.” Becker and Muslic were not alone in their celebration; a huge Schalke cheering crowd could quickly be seen on the sidelines. The fans also saw Becker’s coaching sprint as a sign of solidarity.
The goal wasn’t Becker’s only good move. In the 55th minute he claimed the ball at his own corner flag against several Düsseldorf players and played a short pass to Christopher Antwi-Adjei, who was rudely fouled by Tim Oberdorf. The Fortuna professional saw yellow-red and Schalke played in the majority from then on. Muslic also saw progress in Becker in aerial duels: “He has taken a step forward in his aerial duels. Düsseldorf also quickly looked for the long diagonal ball to our left side.” Muslic himself had worked on it after training sessions with Becker.
Schalke defense chief Katic: “He has a very, very big future ahead of him”
His teammates are enthusiastic about Becker’s talent and qualities. “He shows his class from game to game,” explained defense chief Nikola Katic. “He’s only 20 years old, a left-back with a strong left foot, he has a very, very big future ahead of him. I hope we can keep him as long as possible.”
