Domenico Alberico rises to his dual challenge

Alberico took up his place at the TSG academy on 1 October 2015 and was taken care of by the staff at "Anpfiff ins Leben". They held feedback discussions with the then 17-year-old and coordinated the interplay between school and work. He moved between the Centre for Excellence, TSG's business offices, "Anpfiff ins Leben" and the TSG Fanshop. "It's nice to see that Domenico is now harvesting the fruits of his labour after undertaking this qualification for three years", said "Anpfiff ins Leben" worker Marcel Metz, who had supervised Alberico. "It is not common to go through the training period so masterfully while expending that amount of time, an effort he made not only from an occupational perspective but primarily from a sporting one." 

Alberico is looking back at this period of his life with satisfaction. "I have given myself a second mainstay besides making new friends. I can only recommend that everyone do such a qualification." Training and the qualification were in perfect consonance, but the whole thing did have a disadvantage: "When the others had school holidays, I had to work", said the native of Pforzheim. "I am very grateful to all those who supported me on this journey, especially to my instructor Kai Rosar, the "Anpfiff ins Leben" team and my teacher Lothar Meyer."

Working together with team-mate Politakis in the Fanshop

His football performances didn't suffer because of the qualification. In his first year in the A-Youth he matured early into a key player for the U19s under his "countryman" and first name namesake Domenico Tedesco, and in the season just gone the attacking player was in the starting eleven 25 times under Marcel Rapp, who had already coached him in the U17s. As a result, he belonged to the team that won the South German Championship in May and which faced FC Schalke 04 in the semi-final of the cup. Alberico scored from the penalty spot during the 2-4 match in Oberhausen. He has also sat on the bench once already as an A-Youth player for the U23s, but was not called upon. Match location: Steinbach. He made his senior debut last weekend in the Haarwasen Sports Centre.

The question remains which part of the course was the most exciting: "The best thing was the Fanshop", responded Alberico without needing to think about it too much, "because I worked together with my current team-mate Theo Politakis. But overall it was interesting in all areas and I always had a good relationship with my colleagues."

Marcel Metz praised the newly qualified businessman: "Domenico got to know many departments at TSG Hoffenheim and at "Anpfiff ins Leben" and applied himself really well everywhere he went. His personality has developed enormously, and he has given himself, through his qualification of course, a solid foundation on which to build his career. He can be really proud of himself. We certainly are!"

Football is now the centre of attention again. Alberico wants to have a good season with the U23s and to put himself forward for further tasks.