On Christmas Eve, Holstein Kiel will be strengthened by the addition of David Zec. The central defender comes from the Slovenian champions and has been playing in the Conference League until recently.
With 38 goals conceded in 15 games, promoted Kiel has the weakest defense in the Bundesliga. David Zec, who KSV presented on Christmas Eve as a reinforcement for central defense, is supposed to help the second-last team in the table from January.
National player and captain in Celje
“With David Zec, we have been able to sign an experienced central defender for our defense,” says Kiel’s sporting director Carsten Wehlmann, pleased with the signing of the 24-year-old Slovenian. “We are confident that David’s extensive experience will enable him to quickly take on responsibility and immediately help our team.”
Zec is a Slovenian international (one international cap) and has spent the last three and a half years in his home country at NK Celje, where he was captain until recently. He helped the club, which is based in the city of the same name, win the league last season and qualify for the Champions League qualifiers. Celje failed to make it past the Champions League qualifiers and the Europa League qualifiers, but did make it into the Conference League, in which Zec played in all six group stage games.
Goal to qualify for the play-offs
With his goal to make the final score 3:2 against The New Saints from Wales, Zec put a smile on the faces of the 38,000 residents of the city, who can now look forward to two playoff games against APOEL Nikosia in February. For Zec, who made his last appearance in the Celje jersey, it was the last straw: he decided to make the move to Germany.
“I am very much looking forward to the big challenge of the Bundesliga, which I will tackle with my new team full of energy,” said Zec, who signed a long-term contract. “My goal is to get to know everything here as quickly as possible and to get involved from day one.”
