A worthwhile switch

There are only 557 kilometres between Hoffenheim and Bremen. A short trip for most people, but a worthwhile journey for Kevin Vogt. The former TSG captain moved to the Weser at the end of 2019, where he experienced a nerve-racking but ultimately successful battle against relegation. He then returned to the Kraichgau in a new role in the summer of 2020 – only to end up captaining Hoffenheim once again on 25 October (in Bremen!) in the absence of Benjamin Hübner and Oliver Baumann. "Quite amusing," as he put it himself. The tumultuous year has had a lasting impact. It says a lot that the 29-year-old, who has the experience of almost 250 Bundesliga games under his belt, described the period as "full of lessons for me personally".

From observing his serious look and his intent manner, you can see how much the experiences have shaped Vogt. And how much good they have done him. Self-reflection has always been high up on Kevin Vogt's to-do list. Hence why he does not shy away from sharing what's going on his emotional and mental world. "You can draw a lot of positives from every negative experience afterwards, and that's what I've tried to do. I got out of my comfort zone – i.e. familiar surroundings, sporting success – and encountered a completely new situation in Bremen. It was my most challenging year as a professional footballer. But in the meanwhile, I've become very grateful for it, because it brought me forward in both a sporting and human sense."

The setbacks and difficulties he encountered made Vogt realise what he had achieved before. "Subconsciously, many things became clear. Now I can understand and appreciate everything better. Besides, it was not only a matter of keeping the team in the league in Bremen; it was about the livelihoods of the staff too. That's a different situation. You got to see the other side of the coin, which was very important for me."

"My perspective has become much broader"

The self-criticism that seeps through hints at the way the footballer intensely analyses his own impact on and off the pitch. He also spends a lot of time thinking about his role as TSG captain, which he relinquished at the end of 2019 following a disagreement with former coach Alfred Schreuder. Though Vogt was already an experienced leader before, he feels he has developed personally in that regard – and can see it in his interactions with his team-mates too: "My perspective has become much broader. I was the captain here for a long time, I always played and everything was great for me personally. Thanks to my experiences over the past year, I can now better empathise with the lads who perhaps don't play every weekend or experience setbacks. I can put myself in their position much better. I'm very grateful for that because I did not possess this characteristic to such a degree before. I can better empathise with emotions and situations, and therefore talk about them more openly or intensively. It was a worthwhile year for me personally."

It was this intense self-analysis that helped him upon his return to TSG. Vogt liked having a new role – without special rights – and the chance to "fit in normally at TSG. That was my wish; I want to convince through my performances and not have any claim to the armband or any other special position." However, Vogt does not hide the fact that it was initially "special" to return to the team he had led as captain for a long time after six months away.

Although he was warmly welcomed by his new yet former team-mates, he initially felt "a bit watched" and stepped "back a bit". But the successes of the past years, the experience of the international stage and the development they went through together have created great bonds and "welded the players together", in Vogt's words. "I'm back where I belong." It is obvious that Vogt's experience and performances make him a leader even without the captain's armband. He has a good relationship with coach Sebastian Hoeness, who took over TSG in the summer; Vogt has been one of the regulars since the start of the season and fought his way back into the starting line-up even after a severe corona infection.

"The best place I've played in my career"

Vogt's wish for an "empathetic coach who makes up his own mind" came true. Fears that the circumstances of the Werder switch might have an impact on his relationship with the new head coach were unfounded. "We had two really good talks right at the beginning. I concentrated solely on playing football. Then it was nice to see that the coach thinks I can play a bit of football and rewards that with appearances."

So Kevin Vogt is in the best of moods and is in no doubt whatsoever about the club of his heart: "TSG Hoffenheim is not just any old club for me; it has been the most formative and educational place I have played in my football career. We made history together here. You never know what will happen, but I can still say this confidently now: it is the best place I've ever played and will ever play in my career."