Davie Selke at 1. FC Köln: A chance to teach the mockers – Sport
As is usual with a well-known Bundesliga striker, there are also several best-of videos of Davie Selke’s preliminary life’s work on YouTube. In his case, however, not all editions correspond to the conventional hit collections. The most recent best-of-Selke video is two years old, came from a Werder Bremen fan and only lasts 15 seconds. It shows no tricks and no goals, just says thank you for watching – the subtle taunting hint that despite 202 first division games for SV Werder, RB Leipzig and Hertha BSC there is no crowd.
The desire to refute the prevailing opinion is not the most urgent, but also not the most urgent reason for Steffen Baumgart to bring Selke to 1. FC Köln. That could be heard in each of the sentences with which the Cologne coach commented on the signing of the 27-year-old attacker on Monday afternoon. Selke completed the medical check on Monday and had his first lunch at Geißbockheim. He had previously agreed with Hertha BSC to terminate the contract that ran until the end of the season.
The transfer has been discussed in Cologne for days, and it cannot be said that the reports that Selke is “on the way” have triggered cheers and enthusiasm everywhere. The man has his reputation in the Bundesliga, but it’s not the reputation that matches his ancestral and preferred shirt number 9. 35 goals in, as mentioned, 202 cases is a modest record for a centre-forward.
The FC gets the strong striker that he needs for his flank-heavy attacking game
For Baumgart, the skepticism of the audience is therefore more of an incentive for good cooperation. Apparently the coach got exactly the player he wanted from his club. “I’ve had him on my list for a long time,” he said, “not because he scores or doesn’t score, but because I like him and would rather have him in the team than play against him.” The conditions are favorable for the club: FC gets the strong striker that he needs for his flank-heavy attacking game, there is no transfer fee, and with the annual salary of less than 1.5 million euros, Selke Prämie of the new employer is committed to doing without . In Berlin he earned more than double that.
But Selke should also see the advantages that open up in Cologne: The contract, which is valid until 2024, offers the chance to start again in the Bundesliga. In addition, he is now being treated by a trainer who has held several players at FC to top sporting performances that they themselves did not think possible. Selke was once one of the great hopes of young German talent. When he became European U-19 champion alongside Julian Brandt and Joshua Kimmich in 2014, Uefa named him the best player of the tournament. But the career did not live up to expectations. Selke became a player who always promised more than he delivered through his enthusiasm for action and his theatrical appearance.
Footballers “like to be told what they can’t do,” said Baumgart on Tuesday. Selke is “a player who likes to work in football, he has character and mentality and fits in very well with us”. At least the trainer can’t wait to teach the mockers.