Thomas Sobotzik

Thomas Sobotzik (Polish: Tomasz Sobocki; born 16 October 1974) is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is the managing director of Kickers Offenbach.

Thomas Sobotzik
Sobotzik with FC St. Pauli in the 1996–97 season
Personal information
Date of birth (1974-10-16) 16 October 1974
Place of birth Gliwice, Poland
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Kickers Offenbach (Managing director)
Youth career
1980–1983 Piast Gliwice
1983–1987 Górnik Zabrze
1988 Eintracht Frankfurt
1989–1990 VfB Stuttgart
1990–1994 Eintracht Frankfurt
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Eintracht Frankfurt 2 (0)
1995–1997 FC St. Pauli 65 (7)
1997–1999 Eintracht Frankfurt 62 (17)
1999 1. FC Kaiserslautern 3 (0)
1999–2001 Eintracht Frankfurt 34 (5)
2001–2003 Rapid Wien 49 (8)
2003–2004 Union Berlin 29 (7)
2004–2007 SpVgg Unterhaching 70 (0)
2007 Sandefjord Fotball[1] 12 (1)
2008–2009 FSV Frankfurt 9 (1)
2009–2011 1. FC Oberstedten
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Born in Gliwice, Poland, Thomas Sobotzik started his footballing career at local club Pogon Zabrze. When he was nine years old, he moved to Górnik Zabrze. In 1987 the Sobotzik family moved to Frankfurt and soon joined Eintracht Frankfurt.[2] During his stint at VfB Stuttgart he became twice German junior champion and returned to Frankfurt in 1990. At the age of 17 he signed at professional contract. Due to a heavy knee injury he had to pause a long time in 1991.

With 20 years he finally debuted in the Bundesliga. After two seasons at FC St. Pauli a short stint at Kaiserslautern he returned both times to Eintracht. In 2001 Lothar Matthäus signed him for Rapid Wien. Via Union Berlin he came to SpVgg Unterhaching in 2004 where he captained the side in his last season at the Bavarian club.[3]

Thomas Sobotzik appeared in 134 Bundesliga matches (19 goals) und in 110 2nd Bundesliga fixtures (17 goals).

In 2007, he moved to Norwegian side Sandefjord Fotball. In January 2008, moved to German Regionalliga team FSV Frankfurt agreeing a 1+1⁄2-year contract until summer 2009.[4] Upon expiration of his contract he was released by FSV Frankfurt and joined lower league side 1. FC Oberstedten.[5]

Coaching and managerial career

Sobotzik began his coaching career in 2008 as assistant coach of the U-17 team of a lower league side, 1. FC Oberstedten.[5]

In May 2018, Sobotzik was appointed sporting director and responsible for the commercial area at Chemnitzer FC.[6] In early September 2019, he resigned. Sobotzik later explained his resignation with following word: The last personal hostilities, insults and threats I had to experience and suffer go far beyond what is manageable.[7] In November 2019, he was appointed managing director of the sporting area of Kickers Offenbach.[8]

References
  1. 100% Fotball statistics
  2. Thomas Sobotzik at eintracht-archiv.de
  3. Einmal Unioner, immer Unioner! - Thomas Sobotzik
  4. "FSV Frankfurt verpflichtet Thomas Sobotzik". spox.com (in German). 26 January 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  5. "Eintracht spielt heute Abend für einen guten Zweck". Frankfurter Neue Presse (in German). 28 July 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  6. Thomas Sobotzik wird Sportdirektor des Chemnitzer FC, chemnitzerfc.de, 3 May 2018
  7. CHEMNITZ-SPORTCHEF SOBOTZIK: „Mir kam blanker Hass entgegen“, faz.net, 11 September 2019
  8. "Kind der Region": Sobotzik neuer Geschäftsführer in Offenbach, kicker.de, 13 November 2019
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