Lost and found: Reunion yields success years later

It is fairly improbable that Roberto Firmino,33, and Mathias Jaissle, 37, can remember what they were doing on 19 June 2012. But a photo from the archives sheds light on the matter: It was a sunny day in the Kraichgau, TSG Hoffenheim were kicking off their pre-season preparations at the Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion, and both players ran out onto the pitch one after the other to the applause of the supporters. At that moment, nobody would have thought – or even believed it possible – that this duo would go on to enjoy major success together in the future.

The German defender and the Brazilian playmaker played together at TSG for two more years until they went their separate ways for good – or so people thought: Jaissle ended his career back in 2014 at the age of 25, became a youth coach at RB Leipzig and later won the double with RB Salzburg. Firmino made the move to Liverpool in 2015 and became a superstar.

Almost 13 years after being pictured together in TSG kit, the duo were photographed together again in May 2025. In Saudi Arabia. Who would have thought that? This time, the picture of the two – celebrating their Asian Champions League triumph – was seen the world over. There were hundreds of photographers rather than just a handful. A shower of confetti instead of blue skies. And yet the new photo does have one thing in common with the old one: the stars in it are Roberto Firmino and Matthias Jaissle, now miraculously reunited at Al-Ahli. The club that has just won Asia's most important continental title for the first time. Coached by Jaissle and captained onto the pitch by Firmino.

To label it as a success "made in Hoffenheim" would be pushing the boundaries of integrity. And yet it is fair to say that the dissimilar duo's journey together has its roots in Hoffenheim. But certainly, back on 19 June 2012, nobody would have believed that it would lead to the pair taking their place on the winners' podium in the most important football competition on the Asian continent.