From 2008 to 2013, Maurice Exslager played for MSV Duisburg. We ask the former crowd favorite: What is Maurice Exslager actually doing?

It has been almost exactly 13 years and six months to the day since Maurice Exslager played his first game for the MSV Duisburg professionals. The then 19-year-old made his debut on April 24, 2010 in the 2nd division against SC Paderborn and promptly scored his first goal (final score: 2:3). Prior to that, Exslager had spent two years in the Zebras’ youth team.

After his debut against Paderborn, a further 74 competitive appearances for his beloved club followed before he moved to 1. FC Cologne in 2013. The center forward was also used in the 2011 DFB Cup final against FC Schalke 04 (0:5). You can tell that times have changed. Duisburg are currently bottom of the third division and have their backs to the wall. Nevertheless, Exslager is still infected with the MSV virus.

We asked Exslager, who is now 32 years old: “What’s going on with… Maurice Exslager?”

“I’m a branch manager at Deutsche Vermögensberatung and opened my own office in Wesel in April. I look after almost 500 customers in my branch office and am generally accessible to everyone. As of December 1, we will even expand and get more capacity because we have grown very rapidly, whether in the customer area or in partner acquisition. That’s very gratifying, of course,” explains Exslager.

The former professional adds: “I am always open to talking to people about career prospects. It doesn’t matter whether they come from the field, are career changers or athletes. Often, especially as an athlete, you are looking for a performance-oriented job after your active career. There are many parallels between my professional field and soccer. That’s why I decided to do it back then.”

Even though the Bochum-born man has enough to do with his full-time job, football naturally remains his great passion. The former attacker is particularly concerned about MSV Duisburg at the moment. After the false start and the renewed changes in the sporting management, there is once again pure chaos around Margaretenstraße.

Especially when things are going badly, the supposed legends come around the corner and always know everything better. Many are particularly good at pouring even more oil on the fire. But one must not forget that these people were professionals at very different times, when MSV had different financial possibilities. It’s always easy to say that everything was great in the past and now everything is bad.

Maurice Exslager.

“Especially when things are going badly, the supposed legends come around the corner and always know everything better. Many are particularly good at pouring even more oil on the fire. But you also can’t forget that these people were professionals in completely different times, when MSV had different financial possibilities. It’s always easy to say that everything was great back then and that everything is bad now. That’s pretty bold. It’s not for me to judge any of their decisions. I’m too far away for that,” says the 95-time second division player.

Exslager continues: ”Nevertheless, you have to face reality. The reality is the fight for survival in the 3rd division. You can’t sugarcoat that, but I’m not a fan of beating the bushes either. I see the whole thing as a fan from afar. Of course it hurts. With its fans, stadium and tradition, MSV doesn’t belong in this league, but that’s not how the system works. I hope the club doesn’t break down under the situation. The last thing they need now is to lose their fans.”

The big derby against Rot-Weiss Essen is on the program for MSV Duisburg on Saturday (October 28, 2 p.m.). Exslager will also be in the stadium and will keep his fingers crossed for the Zebras: “The game is extremely important. RWE has been playing very consistently so far. A derby like this is always a chance to make amends. But even if we win, everything won’t suddenly be great. Of course, I hope that MSV wins and maybe starts a series. The worst case scenario of relegation to the regional league must be avoided. I think that would be a real dark day. It will be important to keep a sense of realism and self-reflection at the forefront.”