Opposition Check: 1. FC Nürnberg

Interesting Fact: During his time as a center forward, Klose scored many important goals. He lived up to his reputation as a centre forward: In an interview with „bundesliga.com,“ he revealed that of his approximately 300 goals, only two were scored from outside the box.

„He who has the youth, has the future.“ This is a famous quote by Napoleon Bonaparte. If this quote were to hold true, the Franconians would certainly have a bright future ahead of them: With an average age of 22.74 years, Nürnberg is the youngest team in the league. Recent examples such as Can Uzun, Nathaniel Brown, and most recently Stefanos Tzimas demonstrate how well players can develop in Franconia. Among the current „young guns“ are names like Rafael Lubach (20), Tim Janisch (19), and Berkay Yilmaz (20), who will surely try to shake up the 2. Bundesliga.

In the beginning there was the ball. If Robin Knoche were to write his biography one day, it could begin with precisely this sentence – not because it’s particularly striking, but because it reveals a surprising amount about him. For the 33-year-old, football isn’t just a profession. The fact that „ball“ was the first word Knoche uttered as a baby is therefore no coincidence, but almost a kind of prophecy.

This early connection to the game seems to have had a lasting impact on him. His CV now includes 13 years of professional football. And that experience is characterised by a rare quality: consistency. While other players visit numerous clubs and countries during their careers, Knoche has so far played for exactly three clubs and countries: VfL Wolfsburg (2012 to 2020), Union Berlin (2020 to 2024), and 1. FC Nürnberg (since 2024). In Wolfsburg, he also progressed through all the youth teams and made a name for himself in German football. In Berlin, he became a pillar of a team that achieved historic success with its first and, so far, only Champions League appearance. In Nürnberg, he now wears the captain’s armband.

What sets him apart is a talent he revealed on Sky’s „My Story“: memorising. Tactical processes, running routes, opponent profiles – Knoche absorbs them like other Netflix series. It’s no wonder, then, that he’s logged a total of 450 minutes of Champions League action with Union Berlin and VfL Wolfsburg. He’s also made 29 Europa League and six Conference League appearances. His international experience is more than impressive for a second-division player. Off the pitch, he knows exactly what he’s good at and what others can do better. For example, when it comes to home furnishings. During his time at Union Berlin, he left the design of their home to his wife. „She simply has a better eye,“ he says.

Despite his stops and successes, one thing remains constant: his connection to his hometown. Wolfsburg and his birthplace, Braunschweig, are more than just geographical coordinates. They seem to be his anchors. If Knoche could write a dream script for his career – as he reveals to Sky – it would end with him returning to where his career began: at VfL Wolfsburg.