This is very bad news for Alemannia Aachen: the third division club will have to do without its captain for several months.
Alemannia Aachen’s squad is still too small, according to the club itself, and with just under two weeks to go before the start of the season, the third division club is still looking for reinforcements.
These are now all the more important, as the Kaiserstädter are missing one of their most important players until further notice. Captain Mika Hanraths is out for months. The center back was injured in a friendly match against Patro Eisden Maasmechelen (0-4).
An MRI scan on Monday revealed that Hanraths has suffered a major structural muscle injury, according to the Aachener Zeitung newspaper. Hanraths is scheduled to see a specialist on Tuesday before a decision is made on the next steps.
The injury occurred during the defeat against Belgian second division side Maasmechelen in the first half and without any contact from an opponent. Now Aachen must replace their defensive leader. Even before the Hanraths shock, they had been looking for a new center back.
“Mika is not only my right-hand man on the pitch, he is also a great footballer and a fantastic captain,” coach Benedetto Muzzicato told the Aachener Zeitung newspaper, which is currently missing other potential regulars such as Gianluca Gaudino. “That’s difficult to compensate for, but now other players have to step up and take responsibility.”
The coach had only recently confirmed the 26-year-old as captain. Hanraths had already worn the armband last season under Heiner Backhaus.
The defensive player moved to Tivoli from Schalke’s U23 team two years ago. Hanraths was an important factor in the team’s promotion and then in its fight to stay in the 3rd division. He has made a total of 73 appearances for Alemannia (four goals). It will be some time before he adds to that tally. Meanwhile, the Muzzicato team faces its first challenge of the new season on Saturday after next. The opening game is away to VfL Osnabrück (August 2, 2 p.m.).