In the Bundesliga, Timon Wellenreuther was once unable to establish himself at FC Schalke 04. The 28-year-old now plays for Feyenoord Rotterdam – and has now officially been named the new regular keeper
Timon Wellenreuther has been under contract with Feyenoord Rotterdam since the summer of 2022, but the Karlsruhe native has not yet been able to secure a permanent regular place. Nine appearances in his first season were followed by 19 more last season – alternating with Dutch international goalkeeper Justin Bijlow.
Now, however, Wellenreuther has finally asserted himself, at least that’s what his new coach Brian Priske announced on ESPN on Sunday ahead of the Super Cup final against PSV. “We had a long preparation and time to look closely at everyone,” said Priske, who succeeds Klopp’s successor Arne Slot in Rotterdam. “We have two very, very good goalkeepers. It wasn’t easy, but in the end we opted for Timon.” The coaching team’s choice was communicated to both keepers on Friday and was received very professionally by them – especially by Biljlow.
Starting out at KSC – champions with Feyenoord
Wellenreuther started his career at Karlsruher SC – where his father Ingo was president for a long time. In 2013, he moved to FC Schalke 04, for whom he unexpectedly made seven Bundesliga appearances and two Champions League matches (0:2; 4:3) against Real Madrid in January 2015 because regular goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann and his replacement Fabian Giefer were injured. However, he was unable to establish himself with the miners. After a season at the then Spanish second division club Mallorca and a further season in the regional league at Schalke, he moved to the Netherlands.
At Willem II Tilburg, he fought his way into the starting keeper role after one year before RSC Anderlecht picked him up. He also became number one there after a slight delay, but was first loaned to Tilburg and then to Feyenoord, who signed him permanently as Bijlow’s challenger after winning the 2023 championship.
Wellenreuther will play his first match as number one next Saturday – the first game of the season will be against his former club Tilburg.