Kevin Großkreutz

Kevin Großkreutz (German pronunciation: [ˈkɛvɪn ˈɡʁoːsˌkʁɔʏts]; born 19 July 1988) is a German former professional footballer who played as a right back and winger.

Kevin Großkreutz
Großkreutz with VfB Stuttgart in 2016
Personal information
Full name Kevin Großkreutz[1]
Date of birth (1988-07-19) 19 July 1988
Place of birth Dortmund, West Germany
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Right-back, Winger
Youth career
1992–1995 DJK Rot-Weiß Obereving
1995–1999 VfL Kemminghausen
1999–2002 FC Merkur 07 Dortmund
2002–2003 Borussia Dortmund
2003–2006 Rot Weiss Ahlen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Rot Weiss Ahlen II 2 (2)
2006–2009 Rot Weiss Ahlen 94 (24)
2009–2015 Borussia Dortmund 176 (23)
2015 Borussia Dortmund II 6 (0)
2016 Galatasaray 0 (0)
2016–2017 VfB Stuttgart 26 (1)
2017–2018 Darmstadt 98 27 (3)
2018–2020 KFC Uerdingen 45 (0)
Total 376 (53)
National team
2010 Germany U21 1 (1)
2010–2014 Germany 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He made his senior debut at Rot Weiss Ahlen, and in 2009 joined Borussia Dortmund of the Bundesliga, making 233 appearances for them across all competitions and scoring 27 goals. His honours during his time at the Westfalenstadion included two consecutive Bundesliga titles, including a double in 2012.

In summer 2015, after featuring sparingly at Borussia Dortmund, Großkreutz moved to Süper Lig club Galatasaray where he did not make a single appearance in half a season. He returned to the Bundesliga signing with VfB Stuttgart in January 2016. In March 2017 his contract was terminated after he was involved in a bar fight. A month later, he joined 2. Bundesliga side Darmstadt 98. After one season with Darmstadt 98, he spent two seasons with KFC Uerdingen 05 in the 3. Liga before announcing his retirement in January 2021.

A full international for Germany since 2010, he was part of their team which won the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Großkreutz began his career with the Dortmund clubs DJK Rot-Weiß Obereving, VfL Kemminghausen and FC Merkur 07. In 2002, he joined Borussia Dortmund, where he played until he moved to Rot Weiss Ahlen. Promoted to first team in 2006,[2] he led the club to promotion to the 2. Bundesliga in 2008. He scored 12 goals and was named in the German sports magazine's kicker XI of the year.[3]

Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund players (From Left to Right: Marco Stiepermann, Marcel Schmelzer, Mats Hummels and Kevin Großkreutz) celebrate winning the Bundesliga in 2011
Großkreutz with Borussia Dortmund in 2014

He opened his account with Dortmund on 5 December 2009 in a 4–0 victory over 1. FC Nürnberg.[4] Sven Bender provided him with a diagonal pass that Großkreutz tucked past Alexander Stephan in goal to give Dortmund a 1–0 lead on eight minutes.[5]

Großkreutz opened his goalscoring account for the new season on 22 September 2010, finishing a nice play as Dortmund thrashed 1. FC Kaiserslautern 5–0.[6] In the following round of fixtures, Dortmund faced promoted side FC St. Pauli at the Millerntor-Stadion in Hamburg. Großkreutz scored two goals on either side of a Shinji Kagawa strike as Dortmund won 3–1 with Großkreutz being named man of the match.[7][8] On 29 November 2010, Großkreutz signed a four-year contract extension to stay with Dortmund until July 2014.[9] He was involved in all three goals on 14 January 2011, scoring two and providing an assist for Mario Götze, as Dortmund defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3–1 at the BayArena.[10][11] Großkreutz had a phenomenal second season with Dortmund, netting eight goals and managing seven assists as die Borussen lifted the Bundesliga title.[12]

Großkreutz figured in Borussia Dortmund's 4–2 victory over Bayern Munich on 27 July 2013, at BVB's Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund to lift the 2013 DFL-Supercup.[13]

On 11 December 2013, Großkreutz scored the winning goal away to Marseille in a 2–1 UEFA Champions League win to qualify Dortmund for the knockout phase.[14]

From April to August 2015, Großkreutz was demoted to Borussia Dortmund II, for whom he played 6 times in lower divisions. In September 2015 he was sold to Galatasaray. However, the deal was not completed before the closure of the transfer window.

Galatasaray

On 2 September 2015, it was announced by FIFA that Galatasaray had failed to submit the relevant documentation for Großkreutz before the transfer window closed. FIFA dismissed the case, because the signed documentations were not submitted on time by Galatasaray. FIFA have refused to sanction Großkreutz's proposed move from Borussia Dortmund to Galatasaray, therefore the player was not eligible to play any matches until 1 January 2016.[15] Großkreutz signed a three-year contract worth an average of about €1.6 million per season, plus €20,000 per match bonus. Dortmund received a €1.5 million transfer fee and an extra €250,000 if Galatasaray qualified for the UEFA Champions League.[16]

VfB Stuttgart

On 6 January 2016, having not made a single competitive appearance for Galatasaray, Großkreutz returned to Germany to join VfB Stuttgart for about €2.2 million.[17][18]

On 3 March 2017, the contract of Großkreutz was mutually terminated hours after he got into a bar fight.[19] Großkreutz said in a statement on the club website that he "made a mistake" and he wants "nothing to do with football for the time being."[20]

Darmstadt 98

In April 2017, one month after his departure from VfB Stuttgart, Großkreutz signed with 2. Bundesliga club SV Darmstadt 98 for the 2017–18 season until 2019.[21] He gave his pre-season debut in a warm-up fixture against SG Modau on 23 June 2017.[22]

KFC Uerdingen

On 5 July 2018, Großkreutz joined KFC Uerdingen 05.[23] His contract was terminated by the club in October 2020.[24]

On 24 January 2021, Großkreutz announced his retirement from playing professional.[25]

International career

Großkreutz made his full international debut in a friendly match against Malta on 13 May 2010,[26] helping set up striker Cacau for one of his two goals in a 3–0 win. He next appeared for Germany as a starter against Sweden in a 0–0 draw on 18 November 2010.[27]

In June 2014, he was named in Germany's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[28] Germany went on to win the tournament, though Großkreutz did not make any appearance during the competition.

Personal life

Großkreutz has been a lifelong Borussia Dortmund supporter, growing up and living in the Dortmund area until his move away from the club.[29]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total Ref.
League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rot Weiss Ahlen II 2006–07 Oberliga Westfalen 22———22 [30]
Rot Weiss Ahlen 2006–07 Regionalliga Nord 276———276 [30]
2007–08 351210——3612 [31]
2008–09 2. Bundesliga 32610——336 [32]
Total 94242000009624 —
Borussia Dortmund 2009–10 Bundesliga 32510——33 5 [33]
2010–11 3482170439 [34]
2011–12 31760511[lower-alpha 1]0438 [30][35]
2012–13 292401001[lower-alpha 1]0442 [30][36]
2013–14 331611011[lower-alpha 1]0503 [30][37]
2014–15 1702040—230 [30]
Total 176232123623023627 —
Borussia Dortmund II 2014–15 3. Liga 20———20 [30]
2015–16 Regionalliga West 40———40 [30]
Total 6000000060 —
Galatasaray 2015–16 Süper Lig 0000000000 [30]
VfB Stuttgart 2015–16 Bundesliga 10010——110 [30]
2016–17 2. Bundesliga 16110——171 [30]
Total 261200000281 —
Darmstadt 98 2017–18 2. Bundesliga 27310——283 [30]
KFC Uerdingen 2018–19 3. Liga 33000——330 [30]
2019–20 12010——130 [30]
Total 450100000460 —
Career total 376532723623044257 —
  1. Appearance in German Super Cup

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[38]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Germany 201020
201110
201430
Total60

Honours
Großkreutz after the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final

Club

Borussia Dortmund[39]

International

Germany[39]

References
  1. "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of players: Germany" (PDF). FIFA. 14 July 2014. p. 16. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  2. "RW Ahlen 2006–07". Skladyfutbol.pl. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  3. "?". wuppertalersv.com. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  4. "Und zur Not geht Kevin Großkreutz ins Tor" (in German). RP Online. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  5. "Borussia Dortmund 4–0 Nurnberg". ESPN Soccernet. 5 December 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  6. "Sahin berauscht den BVB" (in German). kicker.de. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  7. "Grosskreutz at the double". ESPN Soccernet. 25 September 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  8. "St. Pauli 1 vs 3 Borussia Dortmund". Goal.com. 25 September 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  9. "Borussia Dortmund Midfielder Kevin Grosskreutz Signs Contract Extension Until 2014". Goal.com. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  10. "Leverkusen 1–3 Dortmund: Dortmund pounce on defensive errors". zonalmarking.net. 15 January 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  11. "Bayer Leverkusen 1–3 Borussia Dortmund". ESPN Soccernet. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  12. "Grosskreutz: Arsenal my favourite". ESPN Soccernet. 8 November 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  13. "Dortmund prevail over Bayern in Supercup thriller". Bundesliga. bundesliga.com. 27 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  14. "Marseille 1 Dortmund 2". BBC Sport. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  15. "Açıklama". Galatasaray (in Turkish). 2 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  16. Galatasaray (1 September 2015). "Kevin Grosskreutz -transfer" (in Turkish). Turkish Public Disclosure Platform (KAP). Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  17. "Kevin Großkreutz transfer completed". vfb.de. VfB Stuttgart. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  18. Galatasaray (6 January 2016). "Kevin Grosskreutz" (in Turkish). Turkish Public Disclosure Platform (KAP). Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  19. "Mutual termination of contract with Kevin Großkreutz". VfB Stuttgart. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  20. "Kevin Grosskreutz leaves Stuttgart days after fight in city centre". The Guardian. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  21. "Struggling Darmstadt signs Kevin Grosskreutz for next season". sportsnet.ca. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  22. "Großkreutz-Debüt erfolgreich" [Großkreutz debut successful] (in German). sport1.de. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  23. "Kevin Großkreutz kommt" (in German). 5 July 2018. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  24. "KFC Uerdingen kündigt Kevin Großkreutz fristlos" [KFC Uerdingen resigns Kevin Großkreutz without notice]. RP Online (in German). 2 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  25. "Weltmeister und BVB-Fanliebling Kevin Großkreutz beendet Profi-Karriere". kicker (in German). 24 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  26. "Cacau brace lifts Germany". Sky Sports. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  27. "Sweden 0–0 Germany: Five Debutants Feature In Lacklustre Draw". Goal.com. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  28. "Germany World Cup 2014 squad". The Telegraph. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  29. Leipold, Richard (29 April 2011). "Kevin Großkreutz – Mit den Augen des Fans" (in German). Frankfurter Allgemeine. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  30. "Kevin Großkreutz " Club matches". World Football. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  31. "Kevin Großkreutz" (in German). kicker. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  32. "Kevin Großkreutz". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  33. "Kevin Großkreutz". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  34. "Kevin Großkreutz". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  35. "Kevin Großkreutz". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  36. "Kevin Großkreutz". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  37. "Kevin Großkreutz" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  38. "Kevin Großkreutz". National Football Teams. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  39. "K. Großkreutz". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
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