The first half of the 3rd division is over, and two second-round matchdays have already been played. The winter break is a good time to select the RS team of the first half of the season.
The first half of the 3rd division is over. Even more: With the exception of Rot-Weiss Essen, Spielvereinigung Unterhaching, Borussia Dortmund II, 1860 Munich, Preußen Münster and Hallescher FC, who have all played 19 matches, the 14 other third division teams have already played 20 matches.
Our editorial team has now used the start of the winter break to select a forecast third division eleven for the first half of the season.
For your information: We play in a 3-4-3 system – in other words: goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders and three strikers. And of course, this team will also be “coached” by a coach from the first half of the season.
Goalkeeper
Jakob Golz (Rot-Weiss Essen): The Essen number one was a big factor in RWE finishing 2023 with 33 points and playing an impressive first half of the season. Many of the Red & Whites’ games were on a knife’s edge and then tipped in RWE’s favor – also because the 25-year-old Golz made countless brilliant saves this season. The goalkeeper has also kept six clean sheets. And: behind Anthony Losilla (VfL Bochum), Golz was also voted runner-up for the 2023 Regional Footballer of the Year by RS users
Felix Götze (Rot-Weiss Essen): Alongside Golz and also Vinko Sapina, the boss of the RWE midfield, Götze is one of Essen’s three corset bars. Having once joined Rot-Weiss as an attacking player, he now commands the red-and-white defense – and does so very well. It is impossible to imagine the defense without him.
Jakob Lewald (Dynamo Dresden): The 24-year-old was trained at SV Werder Bremen and then his path led him to Dynamo Dresden via BSV Rehden and Viktoria Berlin. This season, Lewald has played 20 out of a possible 20 league games and is an absolute key player in Markus Anfang’s team. Dynamo, together with Jahn Regensburg – both conceding just 17 goals – have the strongest defense in the 3rd division. Also thanks to Lewald.
Konrad Faber (SSV Jahn Regensburg): He is the Jahn defensive boss! Faber didn’t miss a single minute – 20 games and 1800 minutes played: that’s as good as it gets. The 26-year-old also scored two goals and set up four others – a perfect example of a full-back.
Midfield
Julian Hettwer (Borussia Dortmund II): Even before the canceled match between BVB II and Münster, Preußen coach Sascha Hildmann said, “With Ole Pohlmann and Julian Hettwer, they have Bundesliga players in their ranks. For me, they are first division players.” This statement should only underline Hettwer’s record this season: 18 appearances, six goals, seven assists. BVB did everything right with this transfer – Hettwer joined from MSV Duisburg in the summer of 2023.
Oliver Batista Meier (SC Verl): Perhaps the best player in the 3rd division. 20 games, nine goals, ten assists – what a great record for the 22-year-old former Bayern youngster. Batista Meier was loaned to Verl by Dresden in the summer to gain match practice. He is doing just that – and has also been involved in 19 goals for Verl. Reason enough for Dynamo to recall the attacking player to the Saxon capital on January 1, 2024. Dynamo Dresden have ended the loan with a clause. Batista Meier will play for the runners-up in the table in the remainder of the season.
Niklas Hauptmann (Dynamo Dresden): In the future, Hauptmann will back up Batista Meier in the six-man position when the latter is whirling in front of him and scoring and setting up goals. Hauptmann is playing an outstanding series and is Dynamo’s stabilizer. When a club extends a contract early until 2028, it has to be a really good player. Niklas Hauptmann is undoubtedly that.
Dominik Kother (SSV Jahn Regensburg): At just 22, he is one of the midfield engines of the league leaders. The left winger has five goals and eight assists to his name. He made the right decision when he moved from Karlsruher SC to Regensburg in the summer. As they say so often: sometimes one step backwards turns out to be two steps forwards. That could be the case – after all, Kother could be promoted with Jahn and KSC could be relegated
Malik Batmaz (Preußen Münster): And another ex-Karlsruher who has hit the ground running at his new club. Batmaz not only scored eleven goals for the promoted Münster side, but has also become an absolute favorite of the Preußen fans. He runs, works hard and scores goals – what more could a fan want to see?
Jannik Mause (FC Ingolstadt): 13 goals and three assists in 19 matches: He has proven his class over the years in the Regionalliga – 156 games, 39 goals, 17 assists – and shows that he can do the same a level higher. This Mause would probably also score goals in the 2nd Bundesliga
Kai Brünker (1. FC Saarbrücken): The 1.90-meter tall “machine” of 1. FC Saarbrücken not only ensured that FCS can continue to look up in the league with nine goals but is also one of Saarbrücken’s DFB Cup heroes. He has already scored two goals in the three rounds. And in the quarter-finals they now face Borussia Mönchengladbach. If you can knock out Bayern and Frankfurt and have a Brünker in your team, you can also knock out Gladbach.
Coach of the first half of the season
Alexander Ende from Verl or Thomas Wörle from Ulm? In the end, we opted for the NRW view and chose Ende. Because, of course, Wörle would have deserved it too. After all, he spent the winter in third place as a promoted coach. But what is achieved in Verl, and the coach is primarily responsible for this, cannot be rated highly enough. Year after year, the East Westphalians lose their best players – including coaches Guerino Capretti and Michel Kniat – and yet they still deliver. Now in their fourth consecutive year in the third division – and each time with the smallest budget in the 3rd division. SC Verl has always been one of the relegation candidates and this season is more likely to find itself among the promotion contenders. This is a great credit to the sporting management around sporting director Raimund Bertels, sporting director Sebastian Lange and coach Alexander Ende. It remains to be seen whether the soccer coach will also manage to replace Oliver Batista Meier in the remaining round – but, as has often been mentioned: these Verlerners can be trusted with anything
