A lot going on in the 3rd division: promoted Cottbus and the traditional clubs Waldhof Mannheim and TSV 1860 Munich have announced new signings.
TSV 1860 Munich have strengthened their squad with the addition of Patrick Hobsch.
The goal-scoring center forward – 13 goals in 38 games for Spielvereinigung Unterhaching last season – will wear the shirt number 34 that his father, Bernd Hobsch, wore for the Lions in the 1997/98 and 1998/99 Bundesliga seasons.
“Patrick Hobsch has long been on my wish list for the new Löwen pack,” said Dr. Christian Werner, 1860 sporting director. “Patrick has everything it takes to be successful at TSV 1860 Munich. He is not only a goal scorer, but also has a very positive attitude. Patrick will be a very important player for us on and off the pitch.”
“To be able to play for TSV 1860 Munich, to have the shirt number that my father wore here in the Bundesliga and to be following in his footsteps, so to speak, is of course something very special. But even more important is that I want to go my own way here, collect my own successes and help this great club to be successful. I’m looking forward to 19 sold-out home games and an incredible atmosphere in the Grünwalder Stadion,” says the 29-year-old Hobsch, who spent the last three years at Unterhaching.
FC Energie Cottbus: New striker involved in 48 goals in 58 games
Promoted FC Energie Cottbus are also pressing ahead with their plans for the upcoming 2024/2025 season in the 3rd division and have signed their first new signing, Romarjo Hajrulla. The 25-year-old Greek-Albanian attacker joins the club from FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt. In 58 competitive appearances for the Thuringians, the 1.79-meter striker scored a total of 30 goals and set up 18 assists.
Head coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz said of the first new signing: “We reached an agreement with Romarjo a few weeks ago, regardless of the league, but wanted to wait until the end of the season to announce the deal. Romarjo brings an extreme power to his game, which you could see very well in the past two years in Erfurt. We really like that. He has also proven that he can score consistently and set up goals. We are convinced that he will enrich our attacking play in the coming year and are delighted that he has decided to join us.”
Hajrulla was born in Athens, grew up in Greece and played for the youth teams of Olympiakos Piraeus and Atromitos Athens before moving to Germany in January 2017. Initially playing for FC International Leipzig, BSG Wismut Gera and ZFC Meuselwitz, his path later led him to 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig.
Waldhof Mannheim: Talent arrives from 1. FC Nürnberg
Another new signing has also been confirmed at SV Waldhof Mannheim. The 20-year-old Seyhan Yigit has joined SVW from 1. FC Nürnberg II and will lace up his boots for the traditional Mannheim club with immediate effect.
The right-back played a total of 25 games for FCN in the Regionalliga this season, scoring seven times. Yigit has both German and Turkish citizenship. The full-back therefore falls under the U23 regulations of the 3rd division. Yigit has made 20 appearances for various Turkish national U-teams, most recently for the U21 national team.
“I heard a lot of positive things about SV Waldhof Mannheim beforehand. I quickly realized during the talks that I could fit in very well here. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to come together and that I’ll be playing for SV Waldhof in the future. With my dynamism and my style of play, I’m convinced that I can help the team in the new season,” said Yigit on signing his contract at the Carl-Benz Stadium.