Serving as the leader on board. - This person born in Saarbrücken is participating in the European Championships.
On Saturday, another European Football Championship kicks off in Evian, France, but this time it's for amputee footballers. Stefan Schmidt Junior (30) will captain the German team as they take on Scotland (Sunday), Poland (Monday) and Greece (Tuesday) in the group stage.
Born in Saarbrücken, Schmidt is a part of the EM!
His story made headlines in 2017. During a relegation match with his club FC St. Arnual, Schmidt collided with the opposing goalkeeper. The diagnosis? A fracture in his Tibia and fibula. That night, he underwent emergency surgery, but complications arose. Infections formed, a thrombosis developed, and he went into septic shock. He was in an artificial coma and his life was saved after grueling weeks, however, his right lower leg had to be amputated.
Schmidt remembers the date: "June 9, 2017 was when they removed my leg. By December, I had already started playing for the amputee footballers in Hoffenheim. After ten weeks in the hospital and fifteen operations."
Now, Schmidt plays for FSV Mainz 05 and the German national team, which includes a female player, Nicola Roos (18). He states, "That doesn't have anything to do with publicity. Nicola is just really good. We don't consider her gender because she's a really strong player. She's got a great foot."
Last season, he helped his Mainzers finish as vice-champions, right behind Fortuna Düsseldorf. He wants to win the championship, but first, he hopes Germany does well in the group stage. "Poland is really strong, they were third the last time. But our team is also good and we want to make it tough for them."
It's worth noting that every place matters in the competition. "That's important," says Schmidt, "because the first seven teams qualify for the World Cup in Costa Rica in two years. That's our main goal."
Naturally, it's also clear that this all comes with a hefty price tag. Training camps, travel, and hotel stays. Schmidt states, "We will be supported by our clubs and the association, but the first team always comes first. There's still a lack of sponsorship in our sport."
Maybe amputee footballers can gain attention with a great result in Evian.
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