TSGDoku - Deniz Solmaz - Simply Different

Part 6: The alumni

Today, Dag Heydecker and Martin Bülles have their say.

Dag is currently managing director of sponsorship/sales, marketing and public relations at EC Bad Nauheim, having held positions as managing director of marketing at SV Sandhausen and 1. FSV Mainz 05.

Martin Bülles was a trainer at the youth development center of 1. FC Köln and is currently head youth scout at 1. FC Köln.

Dag: "I am impressed by how consistently, determinedly and above all innovatively Deniz pursues his idea of soccer. This creativity and sustainability is a very successful mix."

Martin: "Deniz is first and foremost a super person! His boys, his employees and everyone who has to do with him in soccer can s<ense that. I really appreciate the fact that he sometimes swims against the tide, represents his opinion and sometimes does something without a template, whether as a coach or off the field in dealing with the boys. Values such as character, personal responsibility, courage, will and passion are simply important to him, and this carries over into his social, footballing and professional environment! His professional expertise is then added, but the basis is always the "feel good" and the fun of soccer, which is never lost with him and TSG Wieseck. I believe that a recipe for good work is also that the boys know that you are also allowed to fuck up sometimes! Especially in the so important years of personality development. We at FC will always support his "Project Wieseck", the test matches are always a great benefit for both sides and the exchange between the two clubs is more than friendly. Last but not least, a short anecdote that I will always associate with Deniz: His U17 traveled to the Geißbockheim for a test match against our U16. While we, as usual in a NLZ, accompanied our boys with head coach, co-coach, coach, physio, individual coach, goalkeeper coach, psychologist, video analyst, equipment manager and athletics coach, Deniz came with his boys all alone (!) on the pitch. Warming up, medical care, supply, filming - everything was done by his players independently. How Deniz and his boys accepted this game and were simply happy to kick with us impressed me enormously. By the way, the final score was 1:0 for Wieseck and afterwards we had pizza as a reward (laughs)."