Alex Meier picked up the canon in 2015. Here he talks about strengths, weaknesses and particularly unpleasant opponents.
Since 1969, the has awarded the Goal Scorer’s Cup to the most successful Bundesliga striker of the season. Now there is also a trophy at the amateur level. You can find the current standings up to the 11th league under this link. In our interview series, legendary top scorers talk about their careers. Today: Alex Meier.
Which club did you start playing for?
At JSG Rosengarten. I don’t remember that time very well, but I remember that we wore yellow jerseys, green shorts and yellow-green socks.
Were you already a goal scorer as a child?
For a long time, even in my first years as a professional, I always played as a ten. When I came from midfield and had the game in front of me, I scored more goals than if I had been up front. Scoring goals was always the best part! When I was ten years old, in addition to training at the club, I must have scored 500 to 600 times a week with the inside of my foot. He recently sent me my old training schedule. I never had a problem torturing myself in training or doing extra shifts.
Did you have a role model?
My first real role model was Ronaldo, the Brazilian. But the first jersey was Bayern’s Ciriaco Sforza’s, later I got one from Stuttgart’s Krassimir Balakov.
Which was your most important goal?
I never scored a very important goal to keep me in the league or to win the championship. But I remember a particularly nice one: In the home win against Düsseldorf in the 2012/13 season, I flicked the ball from the left corner of the penalty area into the top right corner for the 3:1 final score.
Who was your best teammate?
I have to list a few: Sergej Barbarez and Rodolfo Cardoso very early on at HSV, then of course Pirmin Schwegler, the Brazilian Chris, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Ante Rebic and Luka Jovic.
Who was your best opponent?
I always thought it was bad to play against Martin Demichelis. He was always tough – but fair. An outstanding player. But that hurt more often. Mladen Krstajic, Marcelo Bordon and Jerome Boateng were also very strong opponents.
Which opponent’s goalkeeper was the best?
Manuel Neuer. I’m glad I was able to score a goal against him once when he was still playing for Schalke.
What was your strength?
My goal scoring was okay, I had a good direct shot. My heading game, on the other hand, was only so-so for my size. Nevertheless, I was often on the headers, headed the balls out at the back and won header duels in midfield. That wasn’t a weakness, but it should have been a much bigger strength.
What was your weakness?
My instep kick. I could shoot just as hard with the inside for that.
Who is the best goal scorer of all time?
I never saw Pelé play live, but if you watch his old videos… Or Diego Maradona or Ronaldo. The best of all time? You’d be doing a lot of people an injustice. Gerd Müller, for example, always scored, even though he was covered in a completely different way, because there was no space coverage back then. The strikers used to be worked on properly, they didn’t get yellow cards so quickly.
Which amateur club are you still associated with?
Buchholz 08.
Do you still kick occasionally?
Yes, whenever I’m in Buchholz and the boys are training, I go and join in. I also coached the boys myself for a few weeks. I also play in Charly Körbel’s traditional team.
Where is your goalscorer’s crown?
In the Eintracht Museum in a specially made display cabinet.
