He is now 36 years old and lives in Mannheim. He once played over 100 competitive matches for Rot-Weiss Essen. What has been keeping Benedikt Koep busy lately?
No fan of Rot-Weiss Essen will forget the 2010/2011 season in a hurry. “Promoted in ruins” was the club’s slogan for the 2010/2011 season.
After going bankrupt, RWE were relegated to the NRW-Liga and just one year later, they were celebrating their return to the Regionalliga West in the old Georg-Melches Stadium – promoted in ruins.
Benedikt Koep was also there. The striker was signed from 1. FC Kleve in January 2011 – he scored six goals in 17 appearances en route to promotion – and ultimately remained at Hafenstraße until the summer of 2014, before moving to Sportfreunde Lotte and then to the southwest of the republic. First to Eintracht Trier, Waldhof Mannheim, TSV Steinbach, VfB Stuttgart and finally to VfR Mannheim. Koep, who was born in Emmerich and is now 36 years old, ended his career in the summer of 2022.
Forecasting has checked up on him: What is Benedikt Koep doing now?
Benedikt Koep, where can we reach you by phone?
I’ve been living in Mannheim for two years now. I met the love of my life here. Anna was born in Mannheim and we’re engaged.
What do you do for a living?
I work in the fitness industry as a personal trainer. I have registered a small business and look after all walks of life. Anyone who just wants to do something for their body has come to the right place. I am also employed by the Pfitzenmeier fitness studio chain, a premium studio very well known in the southwest. I really enjoy my work.
How much do you still follow soccer, especially in the west?
A lot. I haven’t let go of it yet. Patrick Lienhard, a good friend, plays for SC Freiburg II. Michael Schulz plays for Viktoria Cologne and then, of course, there is Rot-Weiss Essen. As you can see, the 3rd division is of great interest to me (laughs). But I also follow other clubs. Melanie Hubert, for example, is a physiotherapist at SV Elversberg. She’s my best friend from my lottery days. And so I also follow the clubs and leagues where my friends work.
Rot-Weiss Essen: What memories do you have of your time at Hafenstraße?
There was no more intense time! I know that many players who used to play for RWE say that. But if you get around in this business and have played in Essen, then it’s just like this: Rot-Weiss Essen is a very special club. I was quite successful in Essen, too. We were promoted from the Oberliga and I came in the winter at that time. What I was able to experience for half a year was amazing. The enthusiasm was incredible – and we’re talking about the NRW-Liga, the fifth-highest division. The promotion party was phenomenal. You could see every time how much the fans love this club and live it. And as a player, you feel it too: you wear this crest with a great deal of pride. To this day, I feel drawn to RWE.
You were not granted promotion to the 3rd division at the time…
Yes, unfortunately. Those were different times than today. RWE didn’t have the necessary funds to make a push for promotion. But, sure: I can reveal now that we always wanted to be at the top internally. That’s what Rot-Weiss Essen always wants. In the regional league, RWE was always the team to catch up to. The team, every single player, has to be able to handle that. I was all the more pleased when the club finally got promoted to the 3rd division after 13 or 14 years.
Are you still in contact with Essen?
Team manager Peter Sommer was always someone I could talk to and we are still in touch from time to time. I also said a quick hello to Damian Jamro at the last game the Essen team played in Mannheim. I am also pleased that my former players Kevin Grund and Timo “Mayor” Brauer are now working for the club. These are two guys who have the RWE crest in their hearts.
What do you think RWE can achieve this season?
Anything! Once you’re up there, anything is possible. Why not? I hope the club gets back to where it belongs. Actually, it’s the 1st Bundesliga, but first we have to get into the 2nd Bundesliga. Maybe as early as next season. I’ll put it this way: if RWE makes it to the promotion playoffs, then all of Germany had better watch out. Then the Hafenstraße cauldron will be on fire!