From Relegated to Shooting Star: The Rise of Maximilian Mittelstädt in the European Championship Hopes

2024-03-27 21:50:00

Hertha BSC supporters are rubbing their eyes in disbelief these days. Is it really this Maximilian Mittelstädt who is suddenly fueling the entire nation’s hope for a successful European Championship?

Since Philipp Lahm, many have tried the left-back position in the DFB team – no David Raum, no Robin Gosens and no Benjamin Henrichs have been able to assert themselves in the long term. And now Mittelstädt.

The 27-year-old is playing an outstanding season at VfB Stuttgart and, according to national coach Julian Nagelsmann, has become the “statistically best left-back in the Bundesliga”.

In his hometown of Berlin, at his former club Hertha, Mittelstädt was never really able to exploit his potential.

Maximilian Mittelstädt celebrates in the DFB uniform

Fotocredit: Getty Images

Mittelstädt debuts his “youth love”

“A very hard season is over! The bottom line is relegation, which is a huge disappointment for all of us. This season was anything but easy for me personally too.”

With these words, Mittelstädt announced his departure from the Old Lady to Stuttgart on Instagram in June last year. It was the lowest point of the love affair with the club of his heart.

The story started promisingly. As a 15-year-old, Mittelstädt moved from the Hertha 03 Zehlendorf training club to the “big” Hertha in Westend in the summer of 2012.

Maximilian Mittelstädt in his first professional season at Hertha BSC

Fotocredit: Getty Images

Two and a half years later, he was a member of the blue and white professional squad for the first time; in March 2016, the left-back celebrated his Bundesliga debut in the game against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Mittelstädt and Hertha: An unfulfilled promise

Mittelstädt, the boy from his own youth, was the epitome of the “Berliner Weg” that was later proclaimed. Unfortunately, the 1.80 meter man’s development stagnated in a club that was plagued by crises and chaos.

Mittelstädt was never really able to establish himself as an absolute regular player under the frequently changing Hertha coaches. 2018 World Championship driver Marvin Plattenhardt was often ahead in his position.

The career of the boy from the Berlin outskirts of Staaken seemed like an unfulfilled promise. Ironically, Plattenhardt has been without a club since the summer, while Mittelstädt is currently causing the whole of Germany to be euphoric.

Maximilian Mittelstädt immediately after Hertha BSC was relegated

Fotocredit: Getty Images

Mittelstädt: National player thanks to Hoeneß

With the relegation in the summer of 2023, Mittelstädt’s time with the Old Lady also came to an end. VfB Stuttgart secured the services of the left winger for just 500,000 euros and hoped for an adequate replacement for the departed Borna Sosa.

Under coach Sebastian Hoeneß, the ex-Herthan player experienced a sudden upswing that very few would have expected of him. Mittelstädt is currently flourishing sensationally in the surprise team in the Bundesliga and is placed on the left wing.

He regularly repays his coach’s trust with strong performances. So strong that the national coach finally became aware of him.

Teammates at Hertha BSC last year: Maximilian Mittelstädt and Lucas Tousart

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Already after his debut against France, Mittelstädt received praise from the top. “When I see Maxi Mittelstädt, how calmly he did it in his first international match, it’s absolutely remarkable,” explained Real Madrid star Toni Kroos.

Mittelstädt between genius and madness

The 27-year-old then experienced a performance between genius and madness against the Netherlands. First he made it 0-1 with a horror pass from Joey Veerman (4th), just seven minutes later Mittelstädt equalized with a dream goal from the edge of the penalty area to make it 1-1 (11th) and in keeping with the goal anthem “Major Tom” for a completely detached mood.

Reason enough for the national coach to highlight his full-back’s performance again afterwards.

“In the end, Maxi Mittelstädt’s campaign is exactly what I wanted to see,” said Nagelsmann. “Everyone said: He hasn’t played an international game yet, that might be too early. He makes a mistake, scores a goal, then plays a great game again.”

Also convincing against France: Maxi Mittelstädt

Fotocredit: Getty Images

Then the 36-year-old added: “Very good player, a lot of ambition, a lot of power and also a top guy, he’s good for us.”

And Mittelstädt itself? He is happy about the “very, very nice feeling”: “As a little boy, you dream of moments like this. I worked hard for it and had to deal with a lot of setbacks – that’s why I’m even more proud that I took this path.”

From relegated to shooting star – Mittelstädt could be the decisive factor on the way to the European Championship. A role that no one would have expected him to play in the summer.