Thomas Hitzlsperger Rger
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EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY with Thomas Hitzlsperger 1. The start of it all – debut When he told me to warm-up at against Liverpool – January 2001 THOMAS HITZLSPERGER 4 Man Utd, I wasn’t convinced I would My journey to Villa all began when be coming on. I went to the U17 World Cup with 6 He called me back and said ‘you’re Germany in New Zealand. I got a going on.’ I thought ‘wow, this is trial for Villa after that and because 1 2 going to be interesting.’ I didn’t have a contract with Bayern I was so, so nervous when he was Munich at the time, I thought ‘yeah.’ I giving me instructions before I went fancied my chances. on. But when I came on, all that I trained with the reserves and then pressure fell off me. the first team. The coaches were The following season – 2002/03 impressed and they offered me a - was my first full campaign and contract. Graham’s solitary one on his return They showed real interest. They to the club. I had several starts and showed they really wanted me. Other 5 came off the bench quite a bit too. It clubs who found out I was thinking was a great experience. about moving weren’t as clear. Villa Overall with Graham, I am said ‘we want you eventually for our immensely grateful that he believed first team.’ in my abilities and gave me the I thought it was the right move and chance to play in the first team. I had I could have a good career there. I a lot of respect for him because of was right! his experience and past success, too. It was hard at the beginning but it I learned a lot from him. made me stronger. I was proud that I didn’t just throw in the towel and say 6. Mixed emotions – Villa v Blues ‘it’s not going to work out, I’m going goal – February 2004 home.’ 3 My goal against Birmingham City As you can see from this picture, was amazing. Scoring in that derby my debut was against Liverpool in amazing few moments and John West Brom and Birmingham City Gareth Barry was simply a class act many games - it takes a lot. match is a phenomenal feeling. It was the 2000/01 season but only for a Stevenson levelled things up just stand out above the others. and it was a pleasure and privilege Most importantly, in terms of giving in front of the Holte End - it was a few minutes. past the hour mark at Filbert Street. The one against the Baggies was to play football alongside him in the something back, he was a true role dream come true! We were 3-0 down at Villa Park Steve Staunton played it into me, very important. It was a last minute claret and blue of Villa. model for the young players at the There’s so much adrenaline going and John Gregory put me on for the I ghosted past two opponents and winner and I remember it like it was There have been many great club. through your body that I had to be final five. It wasn’t the best result then fired in low and hard into the yesterday. players in the history of this club and careful with the celebration. Those but a great moment in my career bottom corner. You had fans jumping around he must be up there as one of the 5. Taylor-made with GT – Working were the moments when I was most nonetheless. As you can see I decided to lie down everywhere, leaping out of their best. with Graham Taylor – 2002-03 likely to embarrass myself with a silly after scoring – it wasn’t a planned seats and screaming with joy. The I remember he started as a left Graham changed everything. He celebration… 2. Fox outside the Box – first goal celebration it’s just what came into noise when I scored that one was back and he went on to play in a host changed my career. We didn’t win the game. But my against Leicester – April 2002 my head at the time. truly incredible. It still gives me of different places on the pitch – He watched me in the reserves goal put us 2-0 up so I was feeling on You never forget your first senior What made it really special is my goosebumps when I see it. centre-half, left midfield too before before he was appointed and he had top of the world at that moment. It goal and mine came during a 2-2 dad and brother came to the game Like many players, I’d been finally slotting in at centre midfield. confidence in my abilities and I played was incredible. draw at Leicester City. and to score my first goal at a match dreaming of scoring a late winner In my mind, there was never any at Man Utd soon after. I came on. I We went close in this game! Stern I just remember it was with my right they were attending made it a in an important match. Scoring in a doubt that he would have a great thought ‘this is good’ I was excited. John scored right at the end to spoil foot – that must be a collector’s item! memorable moment. derby is definitely special! career. I had obviously made my debut the party. I was so gutted. Darius Vassell opened the scoring, I admired him greatly – particularly the previous season but I always We played really well in the first half Muzzy Izzet equalised a minute later 3. Bagging a winner – West Brom 4. Different class – playing for his professionalism and his remember the game at Man Utd and then wanted to hold on to the and then I scored two minutes after derby screamer – December 2002 alongside Gareth Barry – 2001- consistency. fondly during Graham’s time in lead rather than smash them. that to make it 2-1 for us. It was an I have to say the derby goals against 2005 To have such a long career with so charge. When you talk about overall regrets 20 www.avfc.co.uk ASTON VILLA NEWS & RECORD 2016-17 21 EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY with Thomas Hitzlsperger though, the only one I have is not 7 9 I also felt, from a football having beaten Birmingham City. 11 perspective, that with Stuttgart I had When I left and saw us beat them a better chance of winning trophies. a couple of times. I was so happy. It And we won the Bundesliga title. was a great feeling. We weren´t favourites but we had a good group of players that all stuck 7. Hitz in his Pomp-ey – Winner together and enjoyed their football. against Portsmouth – February 2005 12. On top of the world – being in People seem to remember my goals 12 German World Cup squad – 2006 against Bolton and Portsmouth in When I was a young boy growing up, that same season – 2005-06. They I couldn´t have imagined that I would were great goals but the key is that one day play for the national team. they were winning goals! That adds But when I got into Villa´s first team, a lot. I simply continued to work hard and The Portsmouth one was goal of see how far it would take me. the season if I remember right. I’m To spend five years in the national not sure if it was the best goal but to 13 team was a great experience. get a reward for it at the end of the To have played with the best players season put a big smile on my face. of that time – and there were plenty Bolton was late in the game and of them like Michael Ballack, Jens Portsmouth too. I took both well Lehmann, Miroslav Klose, Bastian technically. They weren’t easy. They Schweinsteiger and Philippe Lahm – sat up nicely for me. 8 was amazing. You go home and watch them And to be part of the World Cup again on Match of the Day in the squad of 2006 in my home country evening. Those are the moments 10 of Germany meant that I’d exceeded you live for in football. all my expectations. to see him and ask if there was Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane were relegation – April 2011 at the time I was absolutely gutted 8. Don’t shoot! – relationship anything I could do differently. the two best central midfielders It was a terrible season at West that we had lost and eventually 13. On the mic – new life as a with David O’Leary – 2003-2005 He was aware that the fans always at that time – and it’s great to look Ham. dropped out of the division. media pundit – 2013 onwards We had a good relationship. It shouted ‘Shoot’ and his opinion was back and say I’ve played against I was out injured for six months Towards the end of my career I started really well. that this affected me. both of them. and at the end we got relegated. It 11. Title winners – Bundesliga definitely sensed that working as We also went through more He said ‘don’t do that, don’t follow They were always tough was a frustrating and disappointing triumph with Stuttgart – 2007 a media pundit would be a good difficult periods, as one does.