Life after Burkardt: Can Mainz’s new-look attack fill the void? | OneFootball

When Jonathan Burkardt celebrated his 18th Bundesliga goal of the season on the final day - a strike that secured European football - it felt like the culmination of everything Mainz 05 had invested in their academy. An academy product turned captain, he gave the club something priceless: guaranteed goals.

Now, after a summer move across to Eintracht Frankfurt, Mainz are left facing a question no supporter wanted to ask - what does life after Burkardt look like?

The Burkardt impact

Burkardt wasn’t just Mainz’s top scorer; he was their insurance policy. His 18 goals in 29 appearances made him the Bundesliga’s highest-scoring German last season. In the process, he overtook Karim Onisiwo to become the club’s leading Bundesliga scorer of all time. Across 136 league games for Die Nullfünfer, he struck 41 times - averaging a goal roughly every three matches.

For a side usually sitting in mid-table, that kind of output gave Mainz more than just points. It gave them belief that they could push higher.

But replacing Burkardt is about more than numbers. He embodied what Mainz fans value most: tireless pressing, relentless running, and an unwavering commitment to the cause. As a homegrown academy graduate, he carried the supporters’ work ethic onto the pitch - not just a striker, but one of their own.

The future: Mainz’s attacking trio

Nelson Weiper

If there’s one player fans want to believe in, it’s Nelson Weiper. A towering 20-year-old and a local boy himself, he feels like the natural heir to Burkardt’s throne. Last season he scored three goals in 695 Bundesliga minutes - translating to 0.39 goals per 90. The sample size is small, but it hints at potential. He has impressed for Germany at U21 level and recently extended his contract until 2029.

That renewal, though, wasn’t straightforward. For a short time his future looked uncertain, with talk of a move away and his omission from fixtures against Dynamo Dresden and Rosenborg only fuelling speculation. In the end, all parties struck an agreement, and Mainz now have their target man tied down long term - ready to push on with his hometown club.

Weiper’s profile is different from Burkardt’s. At 1.91m he offers physical presence and aerial strength which should suit Mainz’s strength of utilising wingbacks, but he is still learning the composure and consistency to lead the line every week. Mainz clearly believe in his ceiling; the question is whether he can turn flashes of promise into the sustained output Burkardt delivered.

Benedict Hollerbach

Signed from Union Berlin this summer, Benedict Hollerbach brings a more rounded attacking profile. He scored nine goals in 34 league appearances last season, averaging 0.26 goals per game. Unlike Burkardt, Hollerbach isn’t a penalty-box predator although he probably possesses the most similar profile of the three options. He thrives on mobility, pressing from the front, and stretching defences with runs into the channels.

For Mainz, that versatility is valuable. Hollerbach can play centrally or from wide positions, giving Bo Henriksen tactical options. But while he adds variety, he may not provide the cold efficiency that Burkardt offered. It is worth noting that Hollerbach is currently facing a spell on the sidelines after picking up a muscle injury against FC Köln back in August, meaning Mainz are missing out on the versatility and energy they will be craving for the upcoming fixtures.

William Bøving

William Bøving arrives from Sturm Graz after scoring 11 goals in the Austrian Bundesliga last season. At 22, he reflects Mainz’s willingness to gamble on promising young talent from abroad. More of a creative second striker than a traditional No. 9, Bøving can drop deeper, link play, and carve out chances as well as finish them. That versatility could make him an ideal partner for Paul Nebel in one of the dual No. 10 roles in Henriksen’s preferred 3-4-2-1.

His challenge is adaptation. The Austrian top flight provided him with larger amounts of time and space, whereas the Bundesliga is likely to demand quicker decisions and sharper execution. But if he adjusts, Mainz could gain a versatile attacker who not only scores but also elevates those around him.

The verdict

Burkardt’s departure strips Mainz of certainty. But in return, they now have variety. Instead of leaning on one talisman, they can distribute responsibility across three forwards with contrasting strengths: Weiper’s physical presence, Hollerbach’s mobility, and Bøving's creativity.

That variety might prove vital. Unlike last year, Mainz now face the added pressure of European football alongside the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal. With 17 games to squeeze in between October and Christmas, Henriksen will need every option he has. Each of the three forwards will get their chance - and Mainz can’t afford passengers.

Although it’s a shift towards enhanced attacking diversity, it also represents a slight gamble. None of the three have yet produced double-digit Bundesliga returns like Burkardt, meaning Mainz’s fortunes could hinge on whether at least one of them takes a leap forward.

If Weiper matures quickly, if Hollerbach adapts to Henriksen’s system seamlessly, and if Bøving carries his previous form into the Bundesliga, then Mainz could find themselves with a more unpredictable, harder-to-defend front line than before. But if those “ifs” remain unanswered, Burkardt’s absence will feel heavier with every missed chance.

Mainz currently sit 15th in the league after one point from their opening three games. For the fans, “life after Burkardt” will be defined not by nostalgia, but by how quickly the new guard can transform promise into goals to fire them back to the upper reaches of the league.