Maximilian Heidenreich – this name takes you back to the Dreisamstadion in the early 1990s. The place is bumpy and the stands are still sparsely filled. But a new addition exudes light-footedness and elegance. The loose Patrick jersey is only half tucked neatly into the sports shorts. A playing libero. A symbol of a sports club that first astonished the small football town of Freiburg and then the whole of football Germany.
Volker Finke brought Maximilian Heidenreich from FC Basel to the sports club in 1992. An atypical SC transfer. Heidenreich already had a name. As a 17-year-old, he made his debut with the Hannover 96 professionals, with a great career in mind. This was followed by positions at 1860 Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, again Hannover 96 and FC Basel. Too many clubs in too early years, says Volker Finke looking back. The soccer teacher is looking for exactly this type of player for the sports club.
Heidenreich, the classic ten, plays in defense in the Finke system. Against the ball behind the central defenders, when in possession of the ball in front of the central defenders. He doesn’t hit the ball far forward, but rather delegates the build-up of the game. According to Volker Finke, that was actually a bit reminiscent of Franz Beckenbauer. But actually that wasn’t the case. The player Maximilian Heidenreich was ahead of his time.
In his first season with the sports club he celebrated the championship. The team scores more than 100 goals, libero Heidenreich contributes seven goals. This is followed by Duisburg’s relegation, 3rd place in the Bundesliga, SC in the European Cup – Freiburg football history.
Volker Finke says the player Maximilian Heidenreich was a smart guy. I always knew what was happening in the team. Gamer type gambler and passionate in all areas of life.
After relegation in 1997, Heidenreich left the sports club after five seasons and 173 professional games. Before the end of his active career in 1999, he played for VfL Wolfsburg and Wattenscheid 09. And then returns to Freiburg. As a trainer in the region, he works for Freiburger FC, SV Weil and FC Denzlingen. He’s lacing up his kicking shoes again for the traditional SC team.
After a serious illness, Maximilian Heidenreich died at the age of 57. He spent the last weeks of his life with his family in Waldkirch, also with the support of the SC. Freiburg mourns the loss of a great footballer. The sports club wishes its relatives and friends a lot of strength.
Sascha Glunk
Photo: imago images
