Interview with Gregor Kobel: “I Play to Win” | OneFootball

The Swiss goalkeeper joined BVB in the summer of 2021. Only Emre Can has been with the club longer—since January 2020. Kobel has played 217 competitive matches in black and yellow. A milestone awaits the 28-year-old right at the start of the league season: his 200th Bundesliga match.

Gregor Kobel is a symbol of reliability and has become the face of the team. In the 2025–26 season, he was the best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga; in four of the past five seasons, he was named the league’s best goalkeeper.

Niko Kovac says of him: “He’s done a fantastic job here, even before I arrived. We have a great goalkeeper on our team. He exudes calm and composure and makes the saves he needs to make. And when a superhuman save is required, he’s capable of that, too.”

Is a statement like that confirmation of years of hard work?“It’s really nice to hear something like that, especially from my own coach. He’s been through quite a few clubs and seen a lot. That’s why a statement like that means a great deal to me.”

From Zurich to Dortmund

The son of a former first-team ice hockey player was born in Zurich on St. Nicholas Day in 1997 and came up through the ranks at Grasshopper Club. In 2014, at the age of sixteen, he joined the youth academy at TSG Hoffenheim. After making his first appearances with the first team under coach Julian Nagelsmann, he was loaned to FC Augsburg in January 2019, where he played in 16 of 17 possible second-half matches. In the summer of 2019, he transferred to VfB Stuttgart, then a second-division club. He helped the club earn promotion to the Bundesliga a year later. Since 2021, the 1.96-meter-tall athlete has been under contract with Borussia Dortmund; his contract was extended early through June 2028.

Just how big of a step was the move to BVB, really? Have your expectations and hopes been fulfilled?“It’s an honor to play for BVB on the field. We’ve experienced many wonderful moments and many tough ones. I’m grateful for every day that I get to play my sport.”

At what age did you first become aware of BVB?“Early – very early. We’ve had a few Swiss lads here who played very well and enjoyed great success – whether it was Stéphane Chapuisat, Alex Frei, or Philipp Degen, who is my agent today.”

“Let’s see what we can pull off.”

You reached the Champions League final with BVB and played in the Club World Cup—all great memories. But there’s still something missing that you can actually hold in your hands… “As an ambitious athlete, you always play to win trophies. Unfortunately, we haven’t managed that, even though we came very close in the league in 2023 and in the Champions League in 2024. But I still think we’ve experienced a lot of wonderful and positive things so far. And I still have two years left on my contract here. Let’s see what we can accomplish.”

What influence did your parents have on your career? People say you would have made a good hockey player, too. You started playing soccer when your mother was taking tennis lessons… “Next to my mom’s tennis club was the soccer field—and that’s where I got to watch soccer and then wanted to be out there on the field with my classmates. Later, when it came time to commit to soccer and the goal of becoming a pro was very clear, my dad played a big role because he knew the professional game and was able to teach me a lot. I’m very grateful to my parents for everything they’ve given me.”

What can professional soccer players learn from athletes in other sports?“You can take something away from most sports: the mindset, the work ethic, and all the effort you have to put in. I like to draw inspiration from other athletes and other sports.”

You left home at 16, moving from Zurich to Hoffenheim. What was that like?“Looking back, it was a very, very big step, one I wasn’t really aware of at the time. Today I can say: It was great for me to live on my own, to be responsible for myself, and to manage my own money. Growing up like that taught me a lot—including for my sport.”

A Historic Summer

In Hoffenheim, the young Gregor Kobel had the experienced Oliver Baumann ahead of him—and in him, an outstanding mentor. Twelve years later, their paths nearly crossed again. While the German Baumann was benched shortly before the World Cup (and proved to be an exceptional member of the team), Kobel and the Swiss made the World Cup their own. Their dream didn’t end until the quarterfinals.

Numerous saves by Gregor Kobel during the 120 minutes against Colombia and a save in the penalty shootout propelled the Swiss into the round of the world’s top eight teams. For the first time since 1954, Switzerland reached a World Cup quarterfinal. Seventy-two years later, Kobel followed in the footsteps of the legendary Swiss national team goalkeeper Eugène Parlier.

What memories of the 2026 World Cup will stick with you the most?“It was very special to be able to play in a tournament like this. You really feel the significance and the power that a tournament like this embodies. And then playing the final matches in different cities was a great experience for me, and I’m very happy that I was able to help my team. I’m very proud of the lads. They really did a great job. And yes, it was a cool achievement that we were all able to celebrate together.”

The number one at BVB, the number one on the national team – at 28, have you reached the point you dreamed of as a little boy?“Right now, in my day-to-day work, I’m way too immersed in the moment to be thinking about things like that. I want to be successful; I want to be successful with Borussia Dortmund. We have big plans for this year; we have a lot of new players whom we need to support and help find their feet at Borussia Dortmund. So I’m really looking forward to those challenges—and everything else is a long way off. When you play for Borussia Dortmund, sooner or later you want to win titles. You want to win every game—whether it’s a practice match, a friendly, or a league game.”

The 2025–26 Season in Numbers

According to kicker, Kobel is the league’s best goalkeeper in 2025/26 and ranks first on the “German Soccer Rankings.” Kobel is ahead of Atubolu (Freiburg), Heuer Fernandes (HSV), Urbig (Munich), Backhaus (Bremen, now Freiburg), and Nicolas (Gladbach).

What does this award mean to you?“It’s wonderful for anyone to receive recognition for their hard work, for everything they’ve invested and accomplished. First and foremost, I try to play my game and help the team succeed. Everything else just comes along with it.”

“As Long as the Drive Is There”

A pecking order that’s been established over the years—Manuel Neuer at the very top, followed by the other established players—has been completely shaken up. How do you see that?“For a very long time, I was one of the youngest goalkeepers in the league—almost unusually so. Now it’s nice to see a few younger ones coming up who are also performing well and showing what they’re capable of. It’s also important for Germany that a few very good goalkeepers are coming up. Manu (Manuel Neuer, Ed.) was Germany’s number one goalkeeper for years. He put in some incredible performances.”

How long do you plan to play? Neuer is still going strong at 40.“It’s wonderful when you can make a career out of your sport. It’s worth enjoying it for as long as possible, as long as you can still perform at the top level. And I’m still relatively young for a goalkeeper. As long as the drive is there and your body holds up, you can certainly keep playing as a goalkeeper for quite some time.”

Has the best phase of your career just begun?“If you compare it to others, you could say that a goalkeeper’s best years are from 28 to 34. I’m still very committed to continuing to work on myself, staying motivated, having fun, and wanting to help the team.”

Some game strategies require teams to build up play from inside the penalty area in a risky manner. How risky do you think it should be?“It always depends on the circumstances. So you can’t give a blanket answer.” How often does a play actually go all the way from your own goal to the opponent’s goal? It’s extremely rare. This, too, must be taken into account when weighing how much risk to take. You have to maintain a certain degree of flexibility in your play. Who are you playing against? What formation are they using? How is the team performing right now? What phase of the game are you in? Is the opponent on the offensive right now? There are so many factors to consider. How is your teammate playing today? How hard is he being pressed? You have to assess all of that and then make the right decision.”

“With such a high workload, you get to know your body very well and know what to listen for and how best to react. I’ve made some adjustments. This three-day rhythm demands more from you, especially with all the traveling. It’s no coincidence that I’m now in this long stretch where I can play consistently. It takes a lot of dedication, a good team, but also a good balance—a certain sense of ease.”

“I play to win at home, too”

The 28-year-old lives just outside Dortmund with his fiancée and their one-year-old daughter. At home, he can unwind. He reads books—preferably biographies.