“I never would have dreamt of playing so many games”

WERDER.DE: Moin Niklas, Saturday’s game was your 250th in the Bundesliga. Can you still remember your debut?

Niklas Stark: I can actually. I came on at half time away at Hoffenheim (in a 2-1 defeat with 1. FC Nürnberg in April 2013) and won a penalty after Casteels cleaned me out (laughs). Although it was just like any old game, everything about your first few matches is a bit surreal.

WERDER.DE: Was there a moment when the tension and surrealness became just routine for you?

Niklas Stark: I wouldn’t describe it as tension. It was just a process that takes longer for some people. At some point, it just becomes normal, and you get used to it.

WERDER.DE: You’ve played against a number of Bundesliga stars over the last 11 years. Who has been your toughest opponent?

Niklas Stark: It’s always tough to single out one player. It wasn’t much fun playing against Pep Guardiola’s Bayern side back in the day. I was there with Nürnberg when the pitch was in an awful state because it had been infected by fungi or something like that. That didn’t matter to Mario Götze and Thiago though – they were still about to knock the ball about nicely, while we were struggling to control it and just spent the whole game chasing after them (laughs).

WERDER.DE: You often played as a defensive midfielder at the start of your career. How did you end up as just a centre-back over the years?

Niklas Stark: It just happened over the years really. I played as a number six quite a lot in my youth and then moved back a position. I’m really happy about that.

WERDER.DE: As a result, scoring goals isn’t really one of your main jobs on the pitch. Of your nine Bundesliga goals, the slightly deflected one in the last minute at Bochum is the most memorable for us.

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Niklas Stark: Slightly deflected, I like that (laughs). I said in interviews back then that I’d always wanted to score a goal like that with a lot of luck involved. It was simply great timing. I’ve scored a few headers that I enjoy watching back. That one in Bochum was a special one though, particularly because I don’t score many goals from distance!

WERDER.DE: You’ve now played 50 top-flight games for SV Werder. How much does it help that the squad hasn’t changed much?

Niklas Stark: There’s always a period at the start where everything is new and you just try to understand everyone. When that’s over, there is some familiarity with one another out on the pitch.

My current aim is to have a successful campaign and reach our targets as a team.

Niklas Stark

WERDER.DE: Having also been at Hertha at the same time, you’ve now played 96 Bundesliga games together with Mitchell Weiser.

Niklas Stark: Maybe I’ll give him a small present after the next four matchdays (laughs). I’ve always really enjoyed playing with Mitch. I generally know what he’s going to do in any situation. If he’s too tired, I have to often say to him: ‘Come back here’. He’s always looking to impact the game at the other end of the pitch (chuckles). He also knows what to say to me. There are a lot of advantages to knowing each other for a long time.

Niklas Stark discussed his career with WERDER.DE (Photo: W.DE).

WERDER.DE: You missed a few games recently due to a muscle problem and have often had short spells on the sidelines throughout your career.

Niklas Stark: Yeah, there have been too many, but that’s just part of football. So far, I’ve thankfully not suffered any serious injuries so I can’t complain. I work hard to stay fit and I’m happy if I’m able to avoid any long-term injuries.

WERDER.DE: At the age of 29, you’ve definitely still got a few years left in your career. What are your targets for your next 250 games?

Niklas Stark: I’m not sure I’ll manage another 250 (laughs). When I was younger, I never would have dreamt of playing so many games. I think it’s wise to take each season as it comes and think in smaller steps. My current aim is to have a successful campaign and reach our targets as a team.

WERDER.DE: Thanks for your time, Niklas!

WERDER.DE: Was there a moment when the tension and surrealness became just routine for you?

Niklas Stark: I wouldn’t describe it as tension. It was just a process that takes longer for some people. At some point, it just becomes normal, and you get used to it.

WERDER.DE: You’ve played against a number of Bundesliga stars over the last 11 years. Who has been your toughest opponent?

WERDER.DE: You often played as a defensive midfielder at the start of your career. How did you end up as just a centre-back over the years?

Niklas Stark: It just happened over the years really. I played as a number six quite a lot in my youth and then moved back a position. I’m really happy about that.