Marco van Hoogdalem is betting on an S04 win in Mainz. He is convinced that the team will stay in the league. Regardless, he supports a charity campaign in Gelsenkirchen.

Marco van Hoogdalem played 193 games for FC Schalke 04. In 2001 and 2002, the Dutchman won the DFB Cup with the Königsblauen. Today he runs a restaurant and rents out holiday flats on a huge estate in Voerendaal, not far from the German border.

The ex-Schalker currently has his PSC disease (primary sclerosing cholangitis) well under control. But he is worried about his S04. “My health is quite good at the moment. But because of Schalke, my heart is bleeding a bit,” van Hoogdalem told RevierSport before S04’s game at 1. FSV Mainz 05.

The 50-year-old, who was at the arena for last Saturday’s 2-1 win over SV Werder Bremen for the alumni reunion, already suffered like a dog during relegation two years ago. But the eruption of emotions after Dominick Drexler’s redeeming goal has also released new energy in him: “This is unique, it only happens like this at Schalke. I’ve been to many stadiums as a player and now also as a spectator. But you don’t find an atmosphere like this anywhere else. The 2:1 was like a redemption,” he said. “The fans give everything to make the miracle happen. And that was the case before. When we’ve come onto the pitch in the arena and heard the fans, it releases incredible energy.”

The Friday night date means the Knappen would now have the chance to finally jump into a non-relegation spot when they play in Mainz with the tailwind from the Bremen game. “I hope and believe that the team will go into the game against Mainz with this boost behind them and also finally win away from home. It would be important for the head and the standings to finally move into a non-relegation spot so close to the end of the season and put the other teams under pressure,” said the former defender.