He spent six years at MSV Duisburg and was allowed to train regularly with the then second division professionals as a 16-year-old. We are talking about Marius Delker.
At 1.89 meters tall, he was a goalkeeper with strong reflexes: Marius Delker had what it took to gain a foothold in the professional game. Born in Essen, he played for the MSV Duisburg youth team from 2007 to 2013. In the end, however, it was not enough for a professional contract.
Marius Delker, who is now 30 years old and plays for Oberliga club Sportfreunde Hamborn 07, became a personnel officer at the Bertelsmann Group instead of a professional footballer.
“I take care of the all-round support of employees in the Bertelsmann Group. I’m the point of contact for employees from the moment they join to the moment they leave. Many strategic matters are also part of my area of responsibility. I am fulfilled in my job and enjoy my work every day. Even when there are unpleasant conversations, such as the subject of redundancy. But unfortunately there are people in every department, in every company, who are then the bogeymen. That’s also part of the job and life,” says Delker.
Delker studied economics at the Ruhr University in Bochum for five and a half years. He first successfully completed his Bachelor’s degree and then his Master’s.
I had a great time working with guys like Tom Starke, who later went to Bayern and probably became one of the most successful substitute keepers in the world. Unfortunately, he only ended up playing for MSV’s U23 regional league team at the time.
Marius Delker
Although he has found his feet very well in professional life, he is not one of those talented footballers who mourn their professional career. Even though Delker undoubtedly had what it takes to make it to the top.
“I was allowed to train with the pros at the age of 15 and 16. Milan Sasic was coach of MSV at the time. The goalkeeping coach at the time, Manfred Gloger, thought the world of me and kept inviting me back up for training. It was a great time working with guys like Tom Starke, who later went to Bayern and probably became one of the most successful substitute keepers in the world. Unfortunately, I only ended up playing for the MSV U23 regional league team at the time. And I was also allowed to play a test match for the professionals,” recalls Delker.
After six years, he left MSV for FC Kray in the summer of 2013. “Even before that, it was clear to me that I wouldn’t make it to the top. At the time, I had a well-known advisor in Michael Ruhnau, who still looks after Leipzig’s Kevin Kampl today. I could also have moved from Duisburg to the U23s of Spielvereinigung Greuther Fürth. But I never had the ambition of touring Germany and earning a few thousand euros, only to find myself at the age of 35 with no job in hand. I was brought up very differently. My motto was: either I make it as a real professional or I concentrate on my studies and my career. After Duisburg, I opted for the second option and I have no regrets at all. I’m also completely at peace with my sporting career,” says the almost 200-time Oberliga goalkeeper.
