Who is Michael Zetterer? | OneFootball

Michael Zetterer: Who is Werder Bremen's ball-playing goalkeeper?

Michael Zetterer had a long, winding journey to the Bundesliga, seeing him go from Germany's third tier to Austria, the Netherlands and eventually first choice at Werder Bremen.

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bundesliga.com takes a closer look at the man who has become a key cog in Ole Werner's Europe-chasing side.

Michael Zetterer

Age: 29 (born 12 July 1995)Club: Werder Bremen          Position: GoalkeeperCountry: Germany

Key stats

A Bavarian native, Zetterer took his first steps into the world of football with local side DJK Darching in Munich, before being snapped up by then Bundesliga 2 outfit SpVgg Unterhaching, who were coached by current Wolfsburg boss Ralph Hasenhüttl between 2007-10.

After rising through the ranks, Zetterer eventually made his debut for the first team in the third tier at just 19, before establishing himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper towards the end of the 2013/14 season.

Zetterer became a first-choice goalkeeper quicker than most, making his Unterhaching debut at just 19. (Fotostand / Gelhot via www.imago-images.de)

His grip on the no.1 jersey remained firm throughout the following season, making him the youngest goalkeeper in the division during his time there. Zetterer's performances and rapid rise caught the attention of Bremen, who signed him in January 2015.

Originally joining up with Bremen’s reserve team in the same division as former club Unterhaching, Zetterer made 30 appearances for them before heading out on loan following their relegation to the Regionalliga Nord (fourth tier) in 2018.

The 6'1" custodian subsequently had spells in Austria's second division with Austria Klagenfurt and in the Netherlands at Eredivisie outfit PEC Zwolle before returning to Bremen and making his Bundesliga debut for the club aged 27, when he came on as a substitute in a 1-0 loss to Augsburg in 2022.

He has since gone on to make 59 Bundesliga appearances for the Green-Whites, becoming ever-present behind the side’s backline.

Zetterer has been irreplaceable since nailing down his starting spot for Werder. (DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze)

Plays a bit like: Marc-André ter Stegen

A calming presence with good footwork and a key part of the side’s build-up play, Zetterer's game is similar to that of the former Borussia Mönchengladbach and current Barcelona stopper.

Did you know?

When Zetter made his debut for Unterhaching against Hallescher FC in 2014, another future Bundesliga player was also in the starting line-up that day: Union Berlin’s Janik Haberer.

The team was managed by Manuel Baum, who would later become head coach at Augsburg and Schalke, and the matchday squad also included Fabian Götze and Jonas Hummels, respectively the younger brothers of 2014 FIFA World Cup winners Mario and Mats.

What they’re saying

"It's one of those situations that arise on the transfer market and that you simply can't let slip by. With Michael Zetterer, we're gaining one of Germany's greatest goalkeeping talents, who has already gained experience in the professional game, into our ranks.” - former Werder sporting director, Thomas Eichin, upon signing Zetterer

"With his ability to read the game as a goalkeeper, he's a key player for our style of play." - current Bremen head coach Ole Werner

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