Timo Hildebrand’s Always Uncertain Future

“Stuttgart is more than a club for me. I set my heart on it. I never wanted to move to another Bundesliga team. It wasn’t about the money. The question was whether I wanted to fulfil my dream and go to one of Europe’s top addresses. It has been a fight between my heart and my head. I want to win the championship with Stuttgart in two years at the latest. There is no clause that allows me to back out, no ifs and buts”, proclaimed Timo Hildebrand rather dramatically two years ago. Or better, he had everything written down on a paper (for him?) and read it out to the press. He had just extended his contract until June 2007 following weeks and months of questions, doubts and hopes over his future with the club. Rumours about excessive salary demands had made the rounds and he fell out of favour with his fans. It was even announced that negotiations had failed and everyone expected Hildebrand to leave the club. Matthias Sammer who was coaching the club back then had already dictated his well wishes to the press just for Hildebrand to make a U-turn shortly afterwards. So his pompous statement was considered to be more hypocritical than heartfelt to say the least. But the beauty of the game is that a couple of matches and some great saves later, Hildebrand had redeemed himself again. And as it turned out he was right about Stuttgart winning the title in two years time. Although you can’t say that he really believed in it himself when the time for another round of contract negotiations started late last year.

The club’s performances had been very indifferent. Matthias Sammer was followed by Trapattoni who was again replaced by Armin Veh who was considered to be an interim coach. The club had been relegated from Champions League play to the UEFA Cup to no international duty at all last season. Probably Hildebrand had already secretly regretted that he didn’t jump ship after all. Although things didn’t look so bleak in November when Stuttgart approached him again. At that time the team could be considered a solid UEFA Cup candidate probably with an outsiders chance of reaching the Champions League qualification spot. However, nothing that could satisfy his claim to national and international glory. He didn’t rebuff Stuttgart straight away – probably liked to keep them as a backup solution or probably he wasn’t really too sure what he wanted to do. Stuttgart’s sporting director Horst Heldt was done with his stonewalling tactics, pulled the plug and withdrew the contract offer. Hildebrand in return announced that he would leave the club and move abroad. That much was certain.

In January Valencia emerged as a potential employer. Their general manager Amadeo Carboni was keen to negotiate a deal but was facing stiff resistance from coach Quique Sanchez Flores. The latter didn’t shy away from publicly criticising Timo Hildebrand’s goal keeping prowess. He was content with their current keeper Santiago Cañizares and pushed through a new contract that secures his services until 2009. Flores had been unhappy with Carboni’s past player recruitments already, so the dispute over Hildebrand didn’t come out of the blue.

Meanwhile things turned out really well in Stuttgart. In the following months the club had become a serious championship contender also thanks to Hildebrands continuously great form. He hadn’t revealed any names of potential clubs yet though. Rumours were popping up that Real Madrid and AC Milan were both interested in his services now as well.

Fast forward to the end of the season. Hildebrand received the perfect parting gift by winning the Bundesliga title but he still wouldn’t reveal much about his future plans. It had been an open secret that Christoph Metzelder would be leaving Dortmund for Real Madrid, but was cautioned by the club not to speak about his transfer until the La Liga season comes to an end. So everyone expected it to be the same with Valencia and Timo Hildebrand. Shortly after the season in Spain had ended, it was announced that Metzelder would join Real Madrid in the summer. Still, no word from Hildebrand though.

Recently the situation in Valencia turned massively against Hildebrand since Carboni lost the confrontation with Flores and was fired. This would leave him with a coach who doesn’t want him and who doesn’t believe in his abilities. You can’t really expect Hildebrand to accept being relegated to the bench. He would risk losing his place in the national team prior to the Euro 2008 tournament. One option that had been discussed by the press is a loan deal which would see him play for some midtable La Liga team. A clear career step back as well. The German tabloid Bild supposedly has some inside knowledge by which Chelsea and Real Madrid are still interested. But seriously, both teams have great goal keepers and don’t need a new No. 1. I personally would favor a move to AC Milan if this is in any way still an option. It is the only big club whose goalkeeper could be considered a liability. Dida was even put on sale on eBay by some frustrated fans last season. As I see it most options look like a clear career setback unless my AC Milan rumour materialises. Probably he should have just stayed in Stuttgart. Poor fool.

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Category: Bundesliga