For 15 years, David Raum wore the Fürth jersey until his move to Hoffenheim this summer. On Saturday, the international experienced an emotional return.
His last appearance at this special place was six months ago. A memorable one. With the 3:2 home win against Düsseldorf, David Raum had celebrated promotion to the Bundesliga with his training club – but at the same time he had also said goodbye to the Spielvereinigung after 15 years in the youth and professional sectors. The 23-year-old had moved to Hoffenheim on a free transfer in the summer, and now he was making an emotional return to Fürth with TSG.
Already during the warm-up, the prodigal son was greeted with words of appreciation from the stadium announcer and warm applause from the Fürth supporters. After all, the homegrown has achieved a lot in this six months, winning the U-21 European Championship, playing at the Olympics and making the leap to senior international. “Of course it was a special game for me. I was trained here and became a professional. I tried to block it out in the game “, said Raum after a turbulent 6:3 victory at the old venue.
Hoffenheim achieve best away result
“The first 20 minutes we were a bit surprised. After that, we did a great job offensively and turned the game around before the end of the first half,” summarised Raum, but his old colleagues didn’t let up and equalised again just seconds after the restart. “We reacted superbly even after the 2:2 blow and showed all the quality in our squad,” said Hoffenheim’s left-back, “it’s good to have won away again.”
Fürth, of all places, was needed to improve TSG’s poor away record, record two wins in a row for the first time this season and score six goals in a foreign stadium for the first time in the 1. Liga. Raum was also instrumental in setting up two goals, but was restrained when it came to celebrating.
Other than that, he ploughed his way around the Fürth flanks in his customary manner, setting up Georginio Rutter before the 1:1 with a strong through pass, whose cross was tucked away by Ihlas Bebou; just eight minutes later, Raum crossed sensitively to the head of Rutter, who finished for the 2:1. A turbulent and, at least for Raum, thoroughly successful return to Fürth: “In the end, of course, the victory was deserved and I’m overjoyed,” said Raum, who, in addition to fond memories, also left his now coveted jersey in Fürth this time.
