Woltemania & co: 5 things we never expected on our 2025 bingo card | OneFootball

Almost exactly a year ago, the football world looked completely different. HSV was still not back in the top league, Jürgen Klopp hadn’t officially started working for an energy drink company, and Florian Wirtz was actually supposed to transfer to FC Bayern Munich. Are you thinking: crazy?

Then get ready, because you’re about to be even more surprised. Here are five things that no one had on their football bingo card for 2025.

Woltemania in England

In January 2025, Nick Woltemade had just managed to establish himself as a regular starter at VfB Stuttgart. Previously, the towering striker had moved on a free transfer from Werder Bremen to the Swabians in the summer of 2024. What happened next?

Exactly. He secured a permanent spot as a DFB striker, scored numerous times in the Bundesliga, and finally transferred to Newcastle United for 75 million euros in August. After joining the Magpies, Woltemade has scored seven goals and provided one assist in 15 matches so far. Woltemania in England – we all saw that coming, right?

Sandro Wagner

Just like the fact that Sandro Wagner would become the coach of FC Augsburg – or did we?! The former Bundesliga striker was previously linked with RB Leipzig, among others, but then surprisingly chose the Fuggerstädter.

Upon arriving at FCA, he first triggered a media hype and then pure gloom. After a Hollywood-style disastrous start, it was all over after 14 games and an average of 0.93 points per match.

Brazilian Oldies Celebrate a European Comeback

The word “over” doesn’t mean much to Thiago Silva and David Luiz either. The football oldies are going strong like Benjamin Button. Instead of winding down their careers in South America, they want—or wanted—to prove themselves in Europe once again.

Luiz moved to FC Pafos in the summer after four years away from European football. The 38-year-old is playing in the Champions League for the Cypriots and has already scored twice in the current league phase. Crazy guy – but not as crazy as Thiago Silva.

📸 Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno - 2015 Getty Images

The 41-year-old is transferring from Fluminense to FC Porto in January. Silva already played for the Portuguese club 20 years ago and now wants to prove that he’s still got it as a veteran. But he’ll call it quits in the summer, right? Well, at least not in May. Silva’s stated goal: the 2026 World Cup with Brazil.

Qualifying Shock in September

The German national team hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory since the 2017 Confederations Cup win. But in a World Cup qualifying group with Slovakia, Luxembourg, and Northern Ireland, as a four-time world champion, you’d think you’d look pretty good. Think again.

On the very first qualifying matchday, Nagelsmann’s squad lost 0-2 in Slovakia. Why was this defeat almost a miracle? Up to that point, the German national team had never – NEVER – lost an away game in World Cup qualification. Luckily, the boys somehow managed to pull themselves together in the following matches.

It Sparkles in Cologne

Alongside Hamburger SV, 1. FC Köln managed to get promoted to the Bundesliga in the summer. But the real bingo miracle happened on the sidelines. Four matchdays before the end of the season, the Billy Goats fired Gerhard Struber. A quick solution was needed. Who could step in?

Clearly: The then 71-year-old coaching veteran Friedhelm Funkel came out of retirement and led FC back to the top tier of German football. Stories that only Funkel can write – or how does the saying go again?

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Alexander Hassenstein - 2025 Getty Images