Felix Wiedwald
{{short description|German footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Felix Wiedwald
| image = Felix Wiedwald 2012 2 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Wiedwald with MSV Duisburg in 2012
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|3|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Thedinghausen, West Germany
| height = 1.90 m
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 1997–1999
| youthclubs1 = TSV Achim
| youthyears2 = 1999–2009
| youthclubs2 = Werder Bremen
| years1 = 2009–2011
| clubs1 = Werder Bremen II
| caps1 = 39
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2009–2011
| clubs2 = Werder Bremen
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2011–2013
| clubs3 = MSV Duisburg
| caps3 = 47
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2013–2015
| clubs4 = Eintracht Frankfurt
| caps4 = 11
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2013
| clubs5 = Eintracht Frankfurt II
| caps5 = 1
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2015–2017
| clubs6 = Werder Bremen
| caps6 = 59
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2017–2018
| clubs7 = Leeds United
| caps7 = 28
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2018–2020
| clubs8 = Eintracht Frankfurt
| caps8 = 3
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2019
| clubs9 = → MSV Duisburg (loan)
| caps9 = 15
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2020–2021
| clubs10 = FC Emmen
| caps10 = 6
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2022
| clubs11 = SV Sandhausen
| caps11 = 0
| goals11 = 0
| totalcaps = 209
| totalgoals = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2009
| nationalteam1 = Germany U20
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
Felix Wiedwald ({{IPA|de|ˈfeːlɪks ˈviːtˌvalt}}; born 15 March 1990) is a German former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. A Werder Bremen youth product, he played for the club's reserves in the 3. Liga before moving to 2. Bundesliga club MSV Duisburg in 2011. Following a two-year stint at Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt he returned to Werder Bremen in 2015. Upon Jiří Pavlenka's arrival in 2017, he moved to Championship club Leeds United where he spent one season before rejoining Eintracht Frankfurt. At Eintracht Frankfurt he featured sparingly and was loaned out to former club MSV Duisburg. He retired after stints with Dutch club FC Emmen in the Eredivisie and with 2. Bundesliga side SV Sandhausen. At international level, he made one appearance for the Germany U20 national team.
Club career
=Early career=
After progressing through the academy of TSV Achim and subsequently Werder Bremen, Wiedwald made his debut for Werder Bremen II in the 2–2 away game at FC Carl Zeiss Jena in the 3. Liga on 26 September 2009. He became Werder Bremen II's first-choice goalkeeper.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
=MSV Duisburg=
After joining Duisburg initially as number 2 goalkeeper to Florian Fromlowitz, Wiedwald played his first 2. Bundesliga match for MSV Duisburg on 18 November 2011 in a 3–0 home win against Eintracht Braunschweig.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/duisburg-gegen-braunschweig-2011-bundesliga-1143119/analyse|title=Brosinski beschert Reck den ersten Sieg|website=Kicker|date=19 November 2011|access-date=19 November 2011}}
=Eintracht Frankfurt=
In the summer of 2013, Wiedwald joined Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt, where he became the number two goalkeeper to regular goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. On 12 December 2013, he made his debut for Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Europa League match against Apoel Nicosia.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
Wiedwald made his debut in the Bundesliga on 2 February 2014, when he came on in the game against Bayern Munich for the injured Kevin Trapp. In September 2014, he held off competition from experienced former German international goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand to be the club's temporary first choice goalkeeper after an injury to regular number one Kevin Trapp.{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.de/frankfurt-sign-ex-germany-keeper-hildebrand/a-17955886 |title=Frankfurt sign ex-Germany keeper Hildebrand |website=DW |date=26 September 2014 |access-date=26 September 2014 }}{{cite web|title=Eintracht Frankfurt commits Timo Hildebrand|url=http://www.eintracht.de/start47004/|publisher=Eintracht Frankfurt|access-date=14 September 2015|language=de|date=14 September 2015}}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
=Werder Bremen=
On 26 May 2015, Werder Bremen announced their signing of Wiedwald as he returned to his childhood club after spending four years at other clubs.{{cite web|title=Werder sign Felix Wiedwald and Ulisses Garcia|url=https://www.werder.de/en/news/news/en-news-import/150526-transfers/|website=werder.de|publisher=SV Werder Bremen GmbH & Co KGaA|access-date=29 September 2017|date=26 May 2015}} While Raphael Wolf, his main competitor, struggled with injuries Wiedwald went into the 2015–16 season as Werder's first choice goalkeeper.{{cite web|last1=Müller|first1=Thiemo|title="Boxer" Wiedwald ist der Chef im Ring |url=https://www.kicker.de/boxer-wiedwald-ist-der-chef-im-ring-630832/artikel|publisher=Kicker|access-date=22 August 2015|language=de|date=14 July 2015}}
At the beginning of the 2016–17 season, Wiedwald shared the number one position with Jaroslav Drobny, however established himself in the second half of the season, with Wiedwald starting 26 games for Bremen over the season as they finished 8th in the Bundesliga. After impressing during the latter half of the season and reaching a clause after playing 20+ games, on 11 May 2017, Wiedwald's contract at the club was automatically extended.{{cite news|last1=Knips|first1=Björn|last2=Sander|first2=Carsten|title=Felix Wiedwald bleibt – "definitiv"|url=https://www.werderstube.de/news/felix-wiedwald-bleibt-definitiv-bei-werder-bremen-8292616.html|access-date=27 June 2017|website=WerderStube|date=11 May 2017|language=de}}
After Bremen signed goalkeeper Jiří Pavlenka on 27 June 2017 as the new number one goalkeeper for the 2017–18 season, Wiedwald was subject of enquiries from Ligue 1 club FC Nantes and Championship club Leeds United.{{cite web|last1=Klemm|first1=Hans-Günter|title=Wiedwald auf dem Weg nach Leeds|trans-title=Wiedwald on the way to Leeds |url=https://www.kicker.de/wiedwald-auf-dem-weg-nach-leeds-700494/artikel|publisher=Kicker|access-date=29 January 2022|language=de|date=27 June 2017}}
=Leeds United=
On 30 June 2017, Wiedwald signed for Leeds United of the Championship on a three-year deal contract an undisclosed fee.{{cite news|title=Felix Wiedwald: Leeds United sign Werder Bremen goalkeeper for undisclosed fee|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40458590|access-date=30 June 2017|publisher=BBC Sport|date=30 June 2017}}{{cite web|title=Whites bring in goalkeeper|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/22001/whites-bring-in-goalkeeper|publisher=Leeds United A.F.C.|access-date=30 June 2017|date=30 June 2017}} On 6 August 2017, the first matchday of the 2017–18 season, he made his Leeds United debut in the 3–2 victory against Bolton Wanderers.{{citation|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/22152/report-bolton-wanderers-2-3-leeds-united|title=REPORT: BOLTON WANDERERS 2–3 LEEDS UNITED|website=Leeds United Official Site|date=6 August 2017}} In the following four league matches on 12, 15, 19 and 26 August he kept four successive clean sheets – in two 0–0 draws against Preston North End and Fulham,{{cite news |title=Leeds 0–0 Preston North End|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40834641|publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 August 2017 |access-date=12 August 2017}}{{cite news |title=Leeds 0–0 Fulham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40858332|publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 August 2017 |access-date=12 August 2017}} in a 2–0 victory against Sunderland{{cite news|title=Sunderland vs Leeds|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/sland-vs-leeds/live/374665|publisher=Sky Sports|date=19 August 2017}} and a 2–0 victory against Nottingham Forest on 26 August.{{Cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/n-forest-vs-leeds/374677|title=Nottingham Forest 0–2 Leeds: Kemar Roofe and Ezgjan Alioski seal win|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=23 August 2017}}
After receiving criticism for his performance against Sheffield Wednesday, Wiedwald lost his place in the side to Andy Lonergan. However, with Lonergan having several games as number 1 and failing to impress, Wiedwald returned to the side against Barnsley on 25 November keeping a clean sheet. During the game, a quick thinking Leeds fan from the crowd gave him his cap when he noticed that the sun was interfering with his vision. After the game, Wiedwald gave the fan his cap back and also his shirt as a thank you gift.{{cite web| url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/11142950/leeds-goalkeeper-felix-wiedwald-given-cap-by-supporter| title=Leeds goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald given cap by supporter| date=25 November 2017| publisher=Sky Sports| access-date=25 November 2017}} He made an error on 9 December against Queens Park Rangers when he let Paweł Wszołek's hopeful tame long ball bounce into the net.{{cite news|title=QPR 1 Leeds United 3: Roofe as first-choice, Ekuban's injury and Wiedwald in goal – Talking Points|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/qpr-1-leeds-united-3-roofe-as-first-choice-ekuban-s-injury-and-wiedwald-in-goal-talking-points-1-8902502|newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|date=10 December 2017}}
He kept his 10th clean sheet of the season in his 19th performance on 1 January 2018 in Leeds 0–0 draw against Nottingham Forest.{{cite news|title=Leeds 0 Nottingham Forest 0|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42475345|publisher=BBC Sport|date= 1 January 2018}} He received the man of the match award for Leeds, after keeping another clean sheet in Leeds 0–0 draw against Hull City on 31 January.{{cite news|title=Phil Hay's Big Match Verdict – Hull City 0 Leeds United 0: Goalkeeper Wiedwald saves patched-up Whites|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/football-2-33854/leeds-united/phil-hay-s-big-match-verdict-hull-city-0-leeds-united-0-goalkeeper-wiedwald-saves-patched-up-whites-1-8990648|newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|date= 31 January 2018}}
After an early error against Bristol City that led to a goal, Wiedwald was criticised both by fans and by former Leeds and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, acting as Sky Sports{{'}} pundit, who said he thought Leeds needed another goalkeeper.{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-boss-paul-heckingbottom-makes-no-assurances-over-felix-wiedwald-1-9026633 |title=Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom makes no assurances over Felix Wiedwald |first=Joe |last=Urquhart |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=20 February 2018 |access-date=20 April 2018}}
On 24 February 2018, he helped prove to be a match winner in Leeds' 1–0 win against Brentford, when he made a save from Brentford's John Egan.{{cite news|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 February 2018|access-date=28 February 2018|title=Leeds 1 Brentford 0|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43093650}} On 2 March, Wiedwald again came under criticism in a 3–0 defeat against Middlesbrough after a series of errors in the game including letting a Patrick Bamford shot squirm past him to score Boro's second goal of the game.{{cite news|date=2 March 2018|access-date=3 March 2018|newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|title=Leeds fans aren't impressed with Felix Wiedwald|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/middlesbrough-3-leeds-united-0-wiedwald-faces-wrath-of-whites-fans-after-riverside-defeat-1-9045887}} On 7 March, he was dropped due to his form, with youngster Bailey Peacock-Farrell preferred in goal against league leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers. Leeds lost 3–0 but Peacock-Farrell received man of the match for his display.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43221260|title=Leeds United 0–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers|date=7 March 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=7 March 2018}}
=Eintracht Frankfurt=
Wiedwald re-signed for Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt on 19 June 2018 on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44539165 |title=Felix Wiedwald: Leeds United goalkeeper joins Frankfurt |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 June 2018 |access-date=19 June 2018}} He joined MSV Duisburg on 2 January 2019 on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.msv-duisburg.de/aktuelles/artikel/msv-setzt-akzente-fuer-die-rueckrunde-felix-wiedwald-wieder-ein-zebra/|title=MSV setzt Akzente für die Rückrunde: Felix Wiedwald wieder ein Zebra!|date=2 January 2019|publisher=www.msv-duisburg.de|access-date=2 January 2019}}
=FC Emmen=
Wiedwald moved to Eredivisie side FC Emmen on 5 October 2020, the last day of the 2020 summer transfer window.{{cite news |last1=Mehr |first1=Sascha |title=Abgang fix: Nächster Torwart verlässt Eintracht Frankfurt und geht ins Ausland |url=https://www.fuldaerzeitung.de/sport/eintracht/eintracht-frankfurt-transfer-fix-sge-torwart-wechselt-ins-ausland-90060866.html |access-date=10 October 2020 |work=Fuldaer Zeitung |date=5 October 2020 |language=de }}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He signed a one-year contract with the option of a second year.{{cite news |title=Fußball: Frankfurts Ersatztorwart Wiedwald wechselt nach Emmen |url=https://www.zeit.de/news/2020-10/05/frankfurts-ersatztorwart-wiedwald-wechselt-nach-emmen |access-date=10 October 2020 |work=Zeit Online |date=5 October 2020 |language=de}}
=SV Sandhausen=
In January 2022, after half a year without a club, Wiedwald signed a contract until the end of the 2021–22 season with 2. Bundesliga club SV Sandhausen. He joined as a replacement for the injured Nikolai Rehnen.{{cite web |title=Felix Wiedwald wird beim SV Sandhausen Rehnen ersetzen |url=https://www.kicker.de/ex-bremer-wiedwald-wird-in-sandhausen-rehnen-ersetzen-887810/artikel |website=kicker |access-date=29 January 2022 |language=de |date=27 January 2022}}
=Retirement=
Wiedwald announced his retirement in September 2022.{{cite news |last1=Cottäus |first1=Daniel |title=Ex-Werder-Torhüter Wiedwald beendet Karriere |url=https://www.weser-kurier.de/werder/profis/ex-werder-torhueter-wiedwald-beendet-karriere-doc7mx23dpewdez1oq1ex5 |access-date=27 September 2022 |work=Weser Kurier |date=26 September 2022 |language=de}}
International career
On 13 November 2009, Wiedwald made his debut for the Germany U20 national team against Austria U20.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
Career statistics
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Appearance in DFB-Pokal}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Appearance in EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Werder Bremen II
|15 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 0 | ||||
| 2010–11
|3. Liga |24 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!39 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Werder Bremen
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11
|Bundesliga |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|MSV Duisburg
|20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 0 | |||
| 2012–13
|2. Bundesliga |27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!47 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 49 | 0 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Eintracht Frankfurt
|Bundesliga |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name="uel"|Appearance in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15
|Bundesliga |10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| Eintracht Frankfurt II
|1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Werder Bremen
|Bundesliga |34 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17
|Bundesliga |25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!59 | 0 | 6 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 65 | 0 | |||
| Leeds United
|2017–18{{soccerbase season|53576|2017|accessdate=19 June 2018}} |28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Eintracht Frankfurt
|2018–19{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/felix-wiedwald/85380/ |title=F. Wiedwald: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=21 July 2017}} |Bundesliga |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20
|Bundesliga |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|name="uel"}} | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3||0||6||0 | ||||||||||
| MSV Duisburg (loan)
|2. Bundesliga |15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 0 | |||
| FC Emmen
|6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!209 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 226 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Fussballdaten}}
- {{Soccerway}}
- {{WorldFootball.net}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wiedwald, Felix}}
Category:Footballers from Lower Saxony
Category:German men's footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:SV Werder Bremen players
Category:SV Werder Bremen II players
Category:Eintracht Frankfurt players
Category:Eintracht Frankfurt II players
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:SV Sandhausen players
Category:2. Bundesliga players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Germany men's youth international footballers
Category:German expatriate men's footballers
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands