Koubek has to wait a long time for his comeback. The goalkeeper works up a sweat in the team hotel. The grandstand regular does not show any nervousness on the lawn. How is it going with him in Augsburg?
Augsburg (dpa / lby) – Tomas Koubek’s daughters Julie and Sophie romped around their dad. In the catacombs of the Augsburg football arena, the former Czech national goalkeeper tried to explain an almost indescribable comeback that he himself had hardly believed in. After regular keeper Rafal Gikiewicz dropped out, coach Enrico Maassen catapulted the 30-year-old from the stands straight onto the pitch. And Koubek was 883 days after his last Bundesliga appearance on Saturday in the 1-1 (0-1) win against VfL Wolfsburg.
“I’m happy that everything went so well. I felt like I could play in the Bundesliga again,” said Koubek, almost moved after his 25th appearance in Germany’s top division. He didn’t even remember his last performance. “I don’t know the date myself when I last played,” admitted Koubek, whose entire family was at the stadium. It was June 27, 2020 at 1: 2 against RB Leipzig.
Koubek should actually be the long-term solution between the posts at FC Augsburg. The national player at the time came in the summer of 2019 for an alleged transfer fee of around eight million euros from Stade Rennes in France, but lost his place to his then competitor Andreas Luthe in his first season. In the summer of 2020, the Augsburgers then brought Gikiewicz from Union Berlin, after which Koubek only sat on the bench. This season even Daniel Klein overtook him in the goalkeeping hierarchy.
Striker Florian Niederlechner described the situation in the stands for Koubek, who is popular with the team, as a “disaster for the head”. He was simply “a great guy”. “He’s very collegial, very friendly, he’s always positive, just a guy you like.” And the most important thing from a professional point of view: “He always gave it his all in training. You really have to take your hat off to him,” Niederlechner continued.
The waiting time was “really difficult,” admitted Koubek, who actually wanted to leave a long time ago. Most recently, a loan to France fell through in the summer. “The clubs were also a bit afraid to take me because I hadn’t played for two years,” admitted Koubek himself, who still has a contract with Augsburg until the summer of 2024. “I can show the clubs again that I have two legs, two hands and can shoot,” added the 1.98 meter giant jokingly.
With his decision for Koubek, Maassen completely demoted the 21-year-old substitute Klein. If an alleged number two doesn’t play when the actual number one fails, when else? Maaßen thought Koubek’s performance was great. Managing Director Stefan Reuter also gave a lot of praise. “Tomas had to wait a long time and did it really well,” said the 1990 world champion. “Big compliments.”
Koubek had self-doubt. Maaßen announced its use on Friday. “From that moment on, there was certainly a bit of nervousness, but I myself was curious about this feeling of what was to come,” said Koubek and reported on a “difficult moment in the hotel”, when he even “sweated a bit”. According to his sleep tracker, Koubek at least got a good night’s sleep before returning to the pitch.
That the wide-legged and impulsive Gikiewicz talks about self-doubt? As good as unthinkable. The two goalkeeper types are so different. As soon as Gikiewicz has recovered from his thigh injury, he should return between the posts of Augsburg. And what happens to Koubek?
“I don’t just want to be there, I want to help my colleagues and teammates,” he said, and continues to ponder his future. “If a player comes and says he wants playing time somewhere, then we’ve shown again and again that we’re open. But it has to be right for all sides,” said Reuter. “We’ll see what this moment brings,” said Koubek, looking forward to a small home party with “dad, mom, brother, wife, children, hamsters and fish”.
