After spending five years at Hansa Rostock, goalkeeper Markus Kolke has decided to take the next step in his career and join the Green-Whites. The 33-year-old spoke to WERDER.DE about his new role within the team and which SVW players he’ll be reuniting with upon his return to the Weser.
WERDER.DE: Moin, Markus! A very warm welcome to Werder Bremen. You’ve joined the Green-Whites after five years at Hansa Rostock. What made you decide to come to Werder?
Markus Kolke: Moin! I think there’s an incredibly interesting challenge ahead of me. I've been really up for it from the offset and am thrilled that the move worked out.
WERDER.DE: You were the first-choice keeper at both Hansa and SV Wehen Wiesbaden, but have consciously decided to take on a very different role at Werder – what appeals to you most about this new challenge?
Markus Kolke: I was made perfectly aware of the role I would play here and my aim is to bring positivity to the goalkeeper team, get to know everyone, and support and push the boys so that we can be as successful as possible.
WERDER.DE: You already experienced life in north Germany during your time at Hansa Rostock, before which you had spells in Hessen and Bayern. Do you like it here in the north?
Markus Kolke: I really like it. As a child, I often went on holiday close by in Carolinensiel. As a family, we feel right at home in the north.
WERDER.DE: You played 60 times with U23 assistant coach Kevin Schindler at Wehen Wiesbaden, and also crossed paths with quite a few ex-Werder players in your career. Do you have any other connections to the Green-Whites?
Markus Kolke: I grew up far away from Bremen, but as a child, I always looked up to Mario Basler, so it’s fitting for me to be here. I’d also spoken briefly to Kevin Schindler about the club, and he had nothing but positive things to say.
WERDER.DE: You didn’t make your debut in the second division until the age of 30, and you were never in a top academy. Did you still believe you’d make it to the top flight?
Markus Kolke: I’ve never had any kind of masterplan for my career. Everything’s just fallen into place; as a footballer, you need a lot of luck. I’ve had that so far and I hope it stays that way.
WERDER.DE: Christian Groß’s retirement means you’re one of the most experienced players in the Werder squad. What goals do you have in mind for your time at Werder?
Markus Kolke: I’m aiming to contribute as much as I can to the goalkeeping group and to the squad as a whole. I know the role I’m expected to fulfil here, and I want to do that as well as I can to be successful with the team.
That’s exactly what we want too. Thank you for your time, Markus!
