Stephan Schröck

[stellarboy]

Schrock relishing new challenge
JUNE 2, 2012 by Cedelf Tupas

SHAH ALAM – In the prime of his career, Filipino-German midfielder Stephan Schrock was hungry for another challenge.

So it came as no surprise that when the offer from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim was presented to him in March, he accepted the deal, finally fulfilling a dream of playing in the top-flight of German football.

But the decision to leave Greuther Furth was by no means easy for the 26-year-old, who had spent his entire career with the club, which took him in 2001 and gave him his first professional contract in 2005.

Furth was sitting on top of the second Bundesliga with promotion in sight and for weeks, Schrock grappled with the decision.

The club developed Schrock from a raw talent into a full-fledged star in the second division.

Furth stuck with Schrock through injuries and was accommodating enough to loan him to the national team to play for his mother’s country.

When he finally decided, Schrock immediately had to deal with the reaction of the club’s supporters, who were hoping that their star will still with them when they embark on a new challenge that is the Bundesliga.

“I was playing well, but it was a really difficult time,” said the 25-year-old Schrock, who returned to the Azkals’ lineup for the international friendly against Malaysia last night at the Shah Alam Stadium here.

“The fans of Furth got angry with me for moving to Hoffenheim.”

Schrock saw one way of cushioning the blow: Helping ensure that Furth captures the title and finally makes the Bundesliga after years of narrowly missing out on promotion.

“It’s great. I was able to help bring maximum success to Furth and part of the team that made history,” said Schrock.

“It was the first time I became the best player in the (second) league. It was a great year for me. It was a great experience that everything went well for me.”

Schrock is relishing the new challenge in Hoffenheim as he aims to cement his place in the regular rotation of coach Marcus Babbel.

“I’m very proud of that contract,” said Schrock, who signed a three-year deal with Hoffenheim. “I’ve worked hard for it the past two years.”

phfootballscribe.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/schrock-relishing-new-challenge/

[stellarboy]

Schrocki's booked again against Malaysia!

If you have observed in his league stats for Furth & recently with the NT, Schrock's disciplinary record is almost a yellow card per 2 games. I'm sure that Hoffenheim will not be too happy for a player getting a yellow every second game, which means that after the second yellow, the player will get an automatic 1 game suspension as per Bundesliga / UEFA rules. Of course a red card not only gets a player out of a game but it also carries a one game suspension, which is normally the next game.

[feindouno]

As far as I know the Bundesliga suspends the player for one game only after accumulating 5 yellows.

[aj0112]

Whatever it is, thoughts and prayers to Stephan Schrock and his family. have a safe trip back to Germany.

On the lighter side, when I heard last year that Cagara has finally decided to play for the Philippines I was very ecstatic to see him and Schrock play together. I thought the October friendlies was what I've been waiting for but then Schrock got injured. Then Challenge Cup but both of them werent released by their clubs. And now, again I've been dreaming since March to finally see them play together but sudden twist of fate I guess prevented it from happening. Oh well, there's still the August, October FIFA match dates.

[cjeagle]

Yup I was looking forward to that combination too, as I think those 2 were our most creative players in our past games, and had the most experience along with Neil, playing at the highest level with Cagara playing for a spell in the Bundesliga in his younger days. I don't expect too much from the
Danes in this game against Indonesia though, because they will be flying in just a day before the game. It is hard to show your best when you are suffering from jetlag.

Anyways, hopefully everything turns out well for Stephan and his family back in Germany.

[stellarboy]

JUST IN: Stephan Schröck's wife "in delicate pregnancy"[/color]

The sources I gathered a few hours ago from Germany are indicating that Stephan Schröck's wife Pina was "rushed to the hospital Saturday morning," and is being "given immediate treatment." As we know from a few months back, Pina was declared pregnant in which the couple enjoyed well. However, another source indicate that she is having a "delicate pregnancy," and her hospitalisation is suspected to be "due to a miscarriage, and found to be 'life-threatening'" to Pina.

We'll have the details as soon as I get it, and we're still confirming this development. Again, our deepest prayers to the Schröck family.

[dingodile5]

Schrocky's interview

[stellarboy]

Schröck: “I can be really aggressive sometimes”

Stephan Schröck achieved promotion to the Bundesliga with SpVgg Greuther Fürth in May, but chose to leave for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the summer. On matchday 8 he will enjoy a reunion with his old teammates, a game that he is relishing. “I’m looking forward to seeing and playing against some old friends, but it was the right time for me to leave after promotion.” In an exclusive interview with actzehn99.de, Schröcki speaks about his first impressions of Hoffenheim, his role on the pitch and his tattoos.

Schröcki, the squad has now had six days of intense training behind them. How have you settled in and what are your impressions of you new teammates?

I’m actually exhausted. Training was really tough, but I can see light at the end of the tunnel. We’re going to push through the last day and a half. The togetherness of the squad is really healthy. It’s a great group of guys with some very different characters, but there’s a definite harmony between us all.

On the first day of training you really had the fans behind you. It seems like that you have a lot of potential to be a fans’ favourite.

That was actually the case in Fürth as well, until it was revealed that I was going to Hoffenheim. But the displeasure of the fans subsided quickly once they saw that I was still giving my best for the club to make sure we got promoted.

How emotional was your exit from Fürth, especially after promotion?

I played there for 11 years, made a lot of friends there and have some very fond memories. You don’t forget that in a hurry. But I still believe that then was the right time to move on.

And on matchday 8 you will line up against those old friends...

I’m looking forward to it already. I wish the guys a really successful season. It would be great of they could win 32 games, with us winning 33!

How would you describe yourself?

I’m a guy that likes to have fun, but on the pitch I can really be quite aggressive. All the coaches I’ve had liked that about me and encouraged me to use it as a weapon, along with my versatility.


You mentioned your versatility there, and you’ve also said your favourite position is ‘in the starting eleven.’ Can you be a little more specific?

It really doesn’t make any difference where I play. In Fürth I played all over the pitch, right left, in defence, in attack. The main thing is that I play.

You have the highest squad number. Were there no other numbers other than 40?


Unfortunately no.17 had already been taken by Tobias Weis and he didn’t want to give it up! No, I mean he’s played in this team for a number of years and has worn that shirt for years. Then I just chose number 40. I would like to have taken a higher number but the DFL doesn’t allow it unfortunately.

You also described yourself as the younger brother of Takashi Usami. How do you think you will play with him?

Takashi is a fantastic player and there’ll be no miscommunication between us on the pitch. I think also that we have a similar sense of humour. He can be quite reserved sometimes, but I’ll tickle that out of him!

You seem to be a very thoughtful person, which will certainly help when you become a father soon…

I hope so, yes. My wife and I are really looking forward to being parents. It will be a massive change, but I am a family man and I think I can handle the challenge.

Family is a big part of your life, as we can see from your tattoos...

Yes that’s true. I have a tattoo of a star for each of my cousins. And on my neck I have a love-bite tattoo, for my wife obviously. Who knows, I may end up getting some more. We’ll have to wait and see.

www.achtzehn99.de/schroeck-i-can-be-really-aggressive-sometimes/

[dingodile5]

Another Schrock interview:

www.bild.de/sport/fussball/hoffenheim/neuzugang-schroeck-wegen-mama-fuer-philippinen-25021054.bild.html

Use Google translate.

[Wiking]

Sorry the Hoffenheim player isn't Schrocky it's Sebastian Rudy but if you're wondering how their 2012/13 kit is, here it is:

[stellarboy]

A surprise introductory interview to Stephan Schröck during his first day of pre-season training at Hoffenheim:

[jayson]

team azkals need this man..is he going to play again for philippines?we have to remember that stephan is the only player who scored during the kuwait and phil match.

[fadzki]

Tonight Stephan Schröck will make history as the first Filipino(actually played for the country before playing for his 1.Bundesliga team) and 1st player from a SEA country to play in 1.Bundesliga... Well hopefully he gets some playing time...

Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. 1899 Hoffenheim @9:30pm...

[feindouno]

Schrock on the bench vs Gladbach.
Link:
www.ilemi.me/28588/1/Watch-Borussia-Monchengladbach-vs-TSG-Hoffenheim-/

[Wiking]

Yes too bad, to think some of his "lesser" team mates from GF beat him too it.

Here's the roster I got about an hour ago: