MSV Duisburg against Rot-Weiss Essen: Baris Özbek played for both clubs that meet in the derby on Friday. And he was there for the last direct league duel in 2007.

Fans of MSV Duisburg and Rot-Weiss Essen had to wait more than 15 years, but on Friday it finally takes place: the first derby in the league since 2007, when MSV and RWE faced each other on the last matchday of the second division season – in a memorable game. The Zebras won 3:0, and after the final whistle there were celebrations and tears. Because while Duisburg won promotion, Essen was relegated.

Right in the middle of it: Baris Özbek. For the 35-year-old, it was his last game in the red and white jersey. He then moved to Turkey and had a career with Galatasaray that took him all the way to the European Cup and the Turkish championship. At the beginning of 2016, Özbek returned to the Ruhr region and signed on with MSV for just under two years. He celebrated promotion to the second division with the Zebras. Today, Özbek lives in Istanbul. With RS, he remembers the derby of 2007 and talks about the upcoming duel between his ex-clubs.

I actually had the feeling before kick-off that we would be relegated.

Baris Özbek on the 2007 derby

Baris Özbek, Friday night is the derby between your former clubs. Whose fingers are you rooting for?

I have mixed feelings about the game. I played for Rot-Weiss Essen in my youth, where I became a professional and a German national team player. I have nice, but also less nice memories of my years at RWE. My time in Duisburg is not all that far back. We were promoted in 2017 and I still have some friends at the club today. If I have to choose, I’ll stick with MSV.

By the less fond memories, you must mean the relegation in 2007 after the 0:3 against MSV on the last matchday. How do you look back on that match?

We lost the first leg against MSV at home by a very narrow margin (1:2, ed.), but before the second leg I already knew that it would be very difficult. A derby, a sold-out stadium and strong Duisburg, who could be promoted with a win. It was my last game for RWE, my move to Galatasaray had already been decided. Of course, I still wanted to stay in the league. But I actually had the feeling before kick-off that we would be relegated.

Why?

We started the season very weak under Uwe Neuhaus. But after the change of coach to Lorenz-Günther Köstner, we made a strong recovery. For example, we flattened 1. FC Köln at home in front of a sell-out crowd with 5:0 – and that was at Carnival. On the penultimate matchday, we played Burghausen. With a win, we would have stayed in the league. We were leading for a long time, then in injury time we conceded the 1-1 with a Sunday shot. That’s when I lost my faith in staying in the league.

How intensively do you follow your ex-clubs today?

Not quite as intensively, Duisburg maybe a bit more, because I played there last time. I still have some connections, I often talk on the phone with my former team-mate Branimir Bajic (now a scout for MSV, ed.). But of course I was very happy that Essen finally managed to return to professional football. I no longer have any contact with Rot-Weiss, the club never got in touch with me. It’s a shame, really, because there aren’t too many players who have made the leap into international football from Essen.

What do you think RWE can achieve in their first year in the Third Division?

The only thing that should count for Rot-Weiss Essen is staying in the league. They first have to get used to the league, you saw that in the defeat in the first game. It’s simply important that they stay in the league so that there is professional football to watch in Essen again on a permanent basis.

And how do you look at MSV?

It’s a mystery to me. When I look at the team, with higher-class experienced players like my former teammate Moritz Stoppelkamp or Aziz Bouhaddouz – I can’t understand why they’ve been playing against relegation lately. I hope that the people in charge will get a grip on the problems this season. MSV belongs at least in the 2nd division, with the fans, the stadium, the training ground.

After your professional career ended, you played for TuS Bövinghausen until the end of last year. What are your plans for the future in football?

I would like to work as a coach and have recently done my B licence. In Bövinghausen, I was a playing co-coach. That was a kind of transition for me – I could keep fit, kick with old friends and get a taste of the coaching business. Now I’m working on my A-licence and hope to be on the line soon.

What is your tip for Friday night?

3:1 for Duisburg.