He is now 36 years old and lives in Mannheim. He once played over 100 competitive matches for Rot-Weiss Essen. What does Benedikt Koep actually do?

No Rot-Weiss Essen fan is likely to forget the 2010/2011 season. “Rising from the ruins” was the Essen slogan for the 10/11 season.

Following insolvency, RWE had to drop down to the NRW-Liga and only one year later, the team of then coach Waldemar Wrobel celebrated their return to the Regionalliga West in the old Georg-Melches-Stadion – promoted in ruins.

Benedikt Koep was also there. The striker was signed from 1. FC Kleve in January 2011 – he contributed six goals in 17 appearances to the promotion – and ended up staying at Hafenstraße until the summer of 2014 before moving to Sportfreunde Lotte and later to the south-west of Germany. 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 asked him: What does… Benedikt Koep?

Benedikt Koep, where can we reach you on the phone right now?

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 are 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 levels of society. Anyone who simply wants to do something for their body is in the right place with me. I am also employed by the Pfitzenmeier fitness studio chain, a premium studio that is very well known in the southwest. I really enjoy my work.

How much do you still follow soccer, especially in the west?

Very much. I haven’t let go yet. Patrick Lienhard, a good friend, plays for SC Freiburg II, Michael Schulz for Viktoria Köln and then of course there’s Rot-Weiss Essen. As you can see, I’m very interested in the 3rd division (laughs). But I also keep an eye on other clubs. Melanie Hubert, for example, is a physiotherapist at SV Elversberg. That’s my best friend from my Lotter 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 never a more intense time! I know that many players who used to play for RWE will tell you that. But if you get around in this business and have played in Essen, then it’s simply true: Rot-Weiss Essen is a very special club. I was also very successful in Essen. We were promoted from the Oberliga and I came in the winter. What I was then able to experience for half a year was amazing. The enthusiasm was incredible – and we’re talking about the NRW league here, the fifth-highest division. The promotion celebrations were also phenomenal. You could see every time how much the fans love and live for this club. And as a player, you can feel it too: you wear this crest with a lot of pride. I still feel drawn to RWE to this day.

You weren’t granted promotion to the 3rd division back then…

Yes, unfortunately. Those were different times than today. RWE didn’t have the money to attack the top. But, of course, I can now reveal that we always wanted to be at the top internally. That’s what Rot-Weiss Essen always wanted. RWE has always been chased in the Regionalliga. The team has to be able to deal with that, every single player. So I was all the more pleased that the club was finally promoted to the 3rd division after 13 or 14 years.

Do you still have contact with Essen?

Team manager Peter Sommer was always a contact person for me and I’m still in touch from time to time. I also briefly said hello to Damian Jamro at Essen’s last appearance in Mannheim. I’m also pleased that my ex-players like Kevin Grund and Timo “Bürgermeister” 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 do this season?

Everything! Once you’re up there, anything is possible. And why not? I hope that the club gets 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. Let me put it this way: If RWE makes it to the promotion relegation, then Germany can dress warmly. Then the Hafenstrasse cauldron will be on fire