“It’ll be a really emotional match”

223 appearances, 12 goals and 32 assists – Daniel Brosinski certainly achieved and experienced a lot following his move to FSV from SpVgg Greuther Fürth in 2014. He’s been a key part of Mainz’s recent history, and his Zerofivers career will end with one final appearance against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. The 33-year-old’s contract expires this summer and won’t be renewed, something which both parties have agreed on. Despite being set to leave the Zerofivers, Brosi will look back fondly at his time at the club and is also anticipating a very emotional farewell on Saturday. “It’s not just a footballing chapter of my life which is ending,” commented the full-back.

Known as Brosi since his first day at the club, he was already visibly emotional at the start of his final interview as a Zerofivers first-team player. It’s been pretty clear to him since winter that this would be his final season at Mainz 05. However, his final few training sessions and his upcoming final appearance for the Zerofivers this weekend have triggered plenty of memories and emotions for the full-back, most of which have been positive, but he’s also had to contemplate not being at Bruchweg next season. “I can hardly believe that I’ll be training somewhere else from this summer. I joked to the other lads that I’ll probably end up back here on the first day of pre-season by accident because it’s the only route I’ve known for the last eight years. I’ll miss a lot from my time here, above all spending time with the lads, but also the matches in front of the fans at the MEWA ARENA.” He’s certainly not considering retirement in the slightest at the moment. He says he still feels “too fit to quit playing, and I’m also too good to stop playing right now,” said the seasoned veteran, confidently.

I can hardly believe that I’ll be training somewhere else from this summer.

Brosinksi made the progression from youth player to professional in his home town, Karlsruhe. He was part of a Karlsruher SC Bundesliga matchday squad for the first time aged just 19, despite never getting onto the pitch. His memories of this time reveal a lot about Daniel Brosinksi as a footballer. “I can still remember it exactly: My first selection was for a home match against Hertha BSC [in November 2007] at the Wildparkstadion, and the second was an away match in Bochum. I have to say I was pleased to be named in the squad the first time it happened, but after the trip to Bochum I was frustrated and asking myself why I even travelled there. I was really ambitious at the time and always wanted to play, no matter where, when or for whom. That’s not changed about my character either, apart from the fact that I deal with big decisions a bit better nowadays than I did in the past,” he explained.

An emotional exit, but leaving with fond memories

Just how difficult was it for Brosi, who has been a regular for the Zerofivers for years, to make just 11 Bundesliga appearances in 2021/22? “It’s always down to the coach’s decision, and Silvan has undoubtedly done an outstanding job, that has to be said. It’s been great to see him do so well, but of course it’s difficult to see him in my position. I’ve accepted it – it’s well known that in football, there are not just the good but also the bad aspects. I’m going to take my next step now and move on from Mainz after eight years, a part of my life which I’ll look back on very fondly.”

It’s well known that in football, there are not just the good but also the bad aspects.

Head coach Bo Svensson will trust Brosi one final time for the game against Eintracht Frankfurt and name the seasoned professional in the starting XI, as he announced at the pre-match press conference. It’s safe to say he’s earned it: “Brosi was a regular for several years here, and he’s been a key figure in the dressing room, he has his own opinion and character, which is a big help for teams like ours. He’s a player you love to have in your squad as a coach, even though he hasn’t been particularly happy with how this season’s gone from his perspective. Despite this, he’s supported the group in a different way. To have spent eight years here shows just how important he’s been. He’s earned the right to play this weekend so that fans can see him one final time as the important and great Mainz 05 player that he is,” the Dane had nothing but respect for the full-back ahead of his farewell match.

Goosebumps and tears

It’s obvious that Brosinski is going to give his all for the Zerofivers one final time on Saturday, so that he can appropriately bid farewell to the FSV fans. He also knows it won’t be like a normal Bundesliga game, though: “It’ll be a really emotional match, and I’m sure I’ll shed one or two tears during it,” Brosinski commented on the emotional side of this weekend’s fixture. “I’m hoping we can get the win in the derby and end the season on a positive note in front of a sold-out crowd, something which we’ve unfortunately been unable to experience in the last two years.”

Brosinksi’s development into a true Zerofiver was foreseeable when he signed for FSV in 2014 and went on to earn himself a regular spot in the team during his first campaign. “I arrived here with a real ambition to become a regular and play in the Bundesliga week-in, week-out. I made the move here to get game time, and I managed to achieve that in my first season.” As he makes the next step, he’s leaving with a plethora of memories as well as plenty of new friendships. “It’s not just a footballing chapter of my life that’s ending. I’ve also made a lot of close personal friends here. I’m always going to be keeping an eye on Mainz and will definitely come back here as often as I can.” He added that the eight years here have gone extraordinarily quickly, but they also make him extremely proud at the same time: “I’m currently grieving more than anything at the minute,” said Brosinski. “Of course I’d have preferred to have played every match this season.” He admits it now time to say: “Okay, I’ve had a great time, but it’s time for a change, for both parties.”

I’ve had a great time, but it’s time for a change, for both parties.

Brosi’s looking for regular game time at a new club for the upcoming season, but he isn’t feeling any time pressures to find a new side, and he can also envisage himself going abroad to somewhere like the USA as well as playing for another German team. “I’m going back home to Karlsruhe on Sunday and then am off on holiday the following Friday. Before then, I’ll let everything sink in and I’ll certainly need one or two days to process the emotional side of it. Then I’ll start focusing on what’s to come. Fortunately, I’ve never had a serious injury and back myself to be able to play at a good level for a good two or three years still. I hope that my future is a bit clearer come June. I’m remaining ambitious and am not looking to be a bit-part player or let my career just fade out.”

Eight penalties, eight goals: Brosi’s penalty secrets

Ice-cold from the spot: Brosi scored this penalty against Nürnberg in January 2019.

“I wouldn’t let anyone else take them”

“I can’t say too much, because who knows what will happen on Saturday, but I always loved taking on the responsibility of a penalty or being the fifth player to take a penalty in a shootout, when everyone’s looking at you. I love the feeling you get when opposition fans hope you miss. You simply have to keep calm, look at what the goalkeeper is doing, choose your corner and make sure to send the ball right into the side netting, because then the penalty is unstoppable. It was tough for me to watch the Bielefeld game from the sidelines, because if I was playing, I’d have scored a hat-trick of penalties,” said Brosinski, laughingly.