David Braig
{{Short description|German footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = David Braig
|image =
|full_name =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|7|22|df=y}}
|birth_place = Germany
|height = 1.85 m
|position = Striker
|currentclub = Stuttgarter Kickers
|clubnumber = 22
|years1 = {{0|0000}}–2019
|clubs1 = SSV Ulm 1846
|caps1 = 198
|goals1 = 80
|years2 = 2020–
|clubs2 = Stuttgarter Kickers
|caps2 = 103
|goals2 = 45
|nationalteam1 = Württemberg
|club-update = 1 January 2025
}}
David Braig (born 22 July 1991) is a German footballer who last played as a striker for Stuttgarter Kickers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.david-braig-von-den-stuttgarter-kickers-vor-8000-zuschauern-gegen-ulm-das-waer-s.9c374594-54fa-43a0-8751-f596c5dd6631.html|title="Vor 8000 Zuschauern gegen Ulm – das wär’s"|publisher=stuttgarter-zeitung.de}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.swp.de/sport/fussball-lokal/donau-iller/ex-torjaeger-des-ssv-ulm-kickers-stuermer-david-braig_-_ich-goenne-den-ulmern-alles_-69399531.html|title=David Braig: "Ich gönne den Ulmern alles"|publisher=swp.de}}
Early life
Youth career
Braig joined the youth academy of German side SSV Ulm 1846 at the age of fourteen.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ulm-news.de/weblog/ulm-news/view/dt/3/article/55087/imageId/959680|title=David Braig verlängert Vertrag|publisher=ulm-news.de}} He then played for the club's under-19 team and made his league debut for the first team on 22 May 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ulm-news.de/weblog/ulm-news/view/dt/3/article/72255/St-uuml-rmer_David_Braig_bittet_SSV_Ulm_1846_um_Vertragsaufl-ouml-sung.html|title=David Braig bittet SSV Ulm 1846 um Vertragsauflösung|publisher=ulm-news.de}}
Senior club career
Braig started his career with German side SSV Ulm 1846, where he was second captain of the club, was described as "face of SSV Ulm 1846 football", and was their longest-serving player.{{Cite web|url=https://www.swp.de/sport/fussball-lokal/donau-iller/bonusspiel-zum-geniessen-fuer-david-braig-28233536.html|title=Bonusspiel zum Genießen für David Braig|publisher=swp.de}} After the club was declared insolvent in 2014, he helped the club achieve fifth place the next season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/neu-ulm/sport/Oberliga-Baden-Wuerttemberg-David-Braig-muss-noch-leiden-id34193067.html|title=David Braig muss noch leiden|publisher=augsburger-allgemeine.de}} He then helped them achieve promotion and was regarded as a fan favorite.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.stuttgarter-kickers-wird-david-braig-in-der-winterpause-ein-thema.61d60b19-9ae4-4bd2-93ad-ca588310e231.html|title=David Braig in der Winterpause ein Thema?|publisher=stuttgarter-nachrichten.de}} In 2020, he signed for German side Stuttgarter Kickers, where he was regarded as an important played for the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.david-braig-von-den-stuttgarter-kickers-ich-weiss-wie-man-eintracht-frankfurt-schlaegt.371067d9-a729-4ad2-9cd1-e957239159db.html|title="Ich weiß, wie man Eintracht Frankfurt schlägt"|publisher=stuttgarter-nachrichten.de}}
International career
Braig played for the Württemberg regional football team at the UEFA Regions Cup.
Style of play
Braig mainly operates as a striker and was known for his strength, receiving comparisons to Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.stuttgarter-kickers-das-sagt-david-braig-zu-seinem-wechsel-zu-den-blauen.8da759d2-4ef3-476e-b1ad-4df13aa26c82.html|title=David Braig zu seinem Wechsel zu den Blauen|publisher=stuttgarter-zeitung.de}}
Personal life
Braig has regarded Brazil international Ronaldo as his football idol.