At Bayer Leverkusen, fairly just a few gamers are at present experiencing their very own private soccer renaissance. However none are taking part in their method again into the highlight fairly like Jonas Hofmann.
Sure, that Jonas Hofmann, who final season was saved away in a tightly locked field on the Bayer stands.
Commercial
The Jonas Hofmann who, at 33 years outdated, abruptly appears as if somebody has reset his sporting spirit to Werkself mode.
Hofmann and Vinícius Júnior United in Thought?
That Hofmann can shine once more like this within the late autumn of his profession is one thing few observers would have anticipated. But, mockingly, this resurgence matches completely with a way more outstanding determine in European soccer: Vinícius Júnior.
His allegedly frosty relationship with former Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has been making the rounds in virtually each newspaper on the continent for weeks. Vinícius is even mentioned to be making a contract extension depending on resolving this relationship.
Commercial
And so, for precisely this motive, Hofmann is at present one thing like Vinícius’ Bundesliga brother in spirit: He’s actually completely satisfied now that Alonso is now not his coach.
As a result of what didn’t work in any respect below Alonso is abruptly working remarkably effectively below the brand new boss on the sidelines. However let’s take it step-by-step.
352 Minutes of Pure Frustration
The document for the 2024/2025 season appears to be like completely devastating from Hofmann’s perspective. He performed simply 352 minutes, lower than 4 full video games. And but, the 2 objectives and one help he managed in that restricted time have been really fairly stable.
How a lot his relationship with Alonso had suffered grew to become clear in the summertime. Hofmann spoke unusually brazenly with the ‘Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger’ in regards to the lack of communication from his coach.
Commercial
He might settle for if a coach seen issues critically, however then he anticipated these issues to be addressed. “A coach shouldn’t wait greater than two weeks to try this,” he mentioned on the time, making no secret of the truth that he had virtually thought-about a switch below Alonso.
The frustration was palpable. In any case, slightly below two years in the past Hofmann was nonetheless on the fringes of the German nationwide crew’s beginning eleven and was one in all Bayer’s most essential protagonists within the first half of the double-winning 2023/24 season.
However in a single day, he now not performed a job below Alonso. Your complete earlier season, he mentioned, he would “pack in a field” that he by no means wished to open once more.
Champions League Misjudgment with Penalties?
When Alonso moved to Actual Madrid in June, Hofmann sensed a brand new alternative: Erik ten Hag got here out of his sabbatical and arrived within the Rhineland with loads of ball-possession idealism. And Hofmann, an clever, strong-passing participant for the so-called half-spaces, appeared an ideal match on paper.
Commercial
However at first, every thing went in another way: an harm throughout pre-season, a scarcity of rhythm, and a coach who was dismissed after simply two Bundesliga video games. Particularly bitter: Hofmann didn’t even make the Champions League squad. Now, as he’s flourishing once more, that call appears fairly absurd.
“The choices have been made on the time and sadly, that’s simply how it’s now,” managing director Simon Rolfes mentioned meaningfully on Tuesday.
A Comeback Like a Dream
However Hofmann didn’t let this setback get him down. After ten Hag’s temporary stint, Bayer surprisingly turned to former Danish nationwide coach Kasper Hjulmand. For the midfielder, this determination turned out to be a stroke of luck each athletically and personally. The 2 know one another from their time collectively at Mainz, and Hjulmand vastly values Hofmann’s tactical flexibility.
Commercial
This was instantly evident on the pitch: After eleven matchdays, Hofmann has already collected extra minutes (377) and extra scorer factors (two objectives, two assists) than in all the earlier yr. Most lately, he was within the beginning eleven twice and scored each occasions.
Hjulmand himself was stuffed with reward after the latest match in Wolfsburg: “He’s tremendous intelligent and might play many positions. He anticipates very effectively and is superb each offensively and defensively. Big reward for Jonas.”
For weeks now, Hofmann has been a everlasting a part of the well-oiled Bayer machine, which lately gained 4 aggressive matches in a row. Particularly as the precise wing-back within the five-man protection, he’s making a powerful impression.
📸 Neil Baynes – 2025 Getty Photos
Commercial
Out of the blue Necessary Once more
For a participant at this age to return again from obscurity to the beginning eleven of a Bundesliga prime crew is something however a given. That is very true for a squad like Leverkusen’s, which was as soon as once more flooded with high-speed abilities this summer season.
However Hofmann is at present exhibiting impressively what he’s nonetheless able to. Above all, he’s exhibiting simply how a lot of a distinction a coach could make when he actually understands his participant.
As a result of the veteran is as soon as once more simply as underrated as he has been all through his profession. He’s within the form of kind that exhibits he by no means ought to have been “put in a field” for the previous yr and a half. He belongs on the pitch. Precisely the place he’s now standing repeatedly once more.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
📸 RONNY HARTMANN – AFP or licensors