Kevin Grund, long-time Rot-Weiss Essen player, has experienced a lot in his career. He reveals why he never left RWE in the Forecasting Q&A.
Kevin Grund played for Rot-Weiss Essen for ten years before moving to 1. FC Bocholt in 2021. He has been under contract with SV Schermbeck in the Oberliga Westfalen since the summer of 2023.
“We’re playing a really good season and want to confirm our current run in the new year,” explains the 36-year-old, who is in second place with Schermbeck and can hope for promotion to the Regionalliga West – as he did with 1. FC Bocholt.
Grund, who played 326 competitive matches for his favorite club from Hafenstrasse, is a true RWE legend. Now he answers the forecasting questionnaire and also reveals why he never left Hafenstraße for the three professional leagues.
My greatest strength is… technical soccer. But also certainly my character.
My biggest weakness is… I’ve sometimes been too sweet in life, but also in soccer.
In our dressing room… there’s always a great atmosphere
The best moment of my soccer career was… the 2020/2021 DFB Cup season with Rot-Weiss Essen. We beat Bielefeld, Düsseldorf and Leverkusen and were only eliminated against Kiel. The celebrations afterwards were great and very long. Unfortunately, it all took place in times of corona and without fans. I still find that sad today. Of course, that would have been the cherry on the cake. Just imagine if we had played in front of a full Hafenstrasse – it would have been amazing. Then we would have blown Kiel away!
The best goal of my career was… against Gladbach II when I converted a free-kick from near the corner flag with my left foot into the far right corner. But, of course, the free-kick goal after our confusion against Fortuna Düsseldorf II was also sensational. That was in September 2013 – a long time ago. It’s now been clicked over 15 million times on YouTube. We tried that again against Viktoria Köln and unfortunately it didn’t work. A certain Raphael Koczor made a great save – the sack (laughs).
My best teammate was… Caiuby during my time in Duisburg. He was really cool. But of course I also have to mention my friend Marcel Platzek. The only problem is that Platzo can “only” score goals, but is limited as a footballer (laughs).
My best coach was… I had many good coaches in my career. But Waldemar Wrobel brought me to Essen and was my first RWE coach. I have fond memories of him. But I’d also like to mention Jan Siewert at this point – he was simply great, both as a person and professionally. Christian Titz was also outstanding professionally. It’s difficult to choose just one. I felt like I had 50 coaches at RWE (laughs).
My worst coach was… I don’t want to name one here. But if anyone thinks it was Marc Fascher, then they’re wrong. Sure: I hardly played under Fascher. That was my worst RWE season. But it’s also true that Fascher was correct as a person. He was able to explain all his decisions well. And: He kept the team together and formed a real unit that was in first place in the winter.
When I was a little boy, my role model was… Ronaldinho. Then came Messi. In my opinion, those were the best footballers of my generation.
I didn’t become a professional footballer because… in the end I was a professional at Rot-Weiss Essen. But it was only the regional league. I also played three times for MSV Duisburg in the 2nd Bundesliga. I could certainly have played higher. But I was always very comfortable and I always wanted to stay with my family. I’m not a globetrotter, but very close to home. Rot-Weiss Essen was and is my home. In short, I didn’t become a professional in the top three leagues because I never wanted to get out of my comfort zone. But I wouldn’t want to change that even with the knowledge I have today.
The best thing about the Ruhr region is… the stadium on Hafenstrasse. And of course the whole Ruhr Valley culture, including the people, who are honest and direct. That’s what I like about the Ruhr.
Either, or?
Dortmund or Schalke? Rot-Weiss Essen.
Beer or water? Water.
Club or pub? None of the above.
Natural or artificial turf? Natural turf.
Fighter or artist? Artist.
Cinema or Netflix? Netflix.
Soccer on TV or in the stadium? In the stadium.
Finally, a few more questions:
Who would you like to have a drink of water with? Messi! The conversation would be difficult because my English is not very good. But I would try to ask him what he has done to play so well and for so long at this level. And simply what his life is like, his everyday life. That would interest me.
At which club did you experience the most extreme team journey – and why?
I was true to myself – almost to the end. Because I always said that I would only work my magic on Mallorca if we managed to win promotion with Rot-Weiss Essen. Unfortunately, that was never the case. I only arrived in the summer after promotion from the NRW league. That’s why my only team trip was with 1. FC Bocholt, but it was a great one. We were there with 35 men after promotion to the regional league. Apart from one Japanese player, who had to fly home, everyone was there. That once again underlined the incredible team spirit. Those were great days. And I even ditched the water and drank a few shandies. But of course I wasn’t as full as some of the guys (laughs).
What can you laugh about?
Definitely at myself. And I laugh a lot about “Platzo”, who I talk to on the phone every day. He’s the first person to call me in the morning.
My best vacation?
All the family vacations in Austria – both in winter and summer. They are always wonderful days that we look forward to all year round.
What is indispensable for you?
Family and soccer.
What music do you like to listen to and what is playing in the dressing room?
I listen to everything. And since “Platzo” arrived, only pop songs have been playing in the dressing room.
If you could start again, what would you do differently in your life?
I would do everything exactly the same – except for school. I would try harder there