The situation of MSV Duisburg in the 3rd division is not getting any better at the beginning of 2024. The Zebras started with a 1-4 in Munich. An ex-player is very worried.
The die-hard fans of MSV Duisburg will certainly remember Youssef Mokhtari. “Mokhi”, as he is called, played at Westender Straße between July 2006 and January 2008.
41 games, 14 goals, 11 assists – the 24-time Moroccan international (ten goals) has a strong record in Zebrastreifen. He was part of the team that promoted MSV to the Bundesliga, was voted Player of the Season 2006/2007 by the fans and was an absolute crowd favorite at the Wedau.
That’s why his unpleasant departure from Duisburg-Meiderich still hurts him all the more. And: to this day, he still roots for the Zebras and is very concerned about the traditional club.
For our “What’s happening?” section, we talked to Youssef Mokhtari (44).
Youssef Mokhtari, how would you assess MSV Duisburg’s current position in the 3rd division?
What is happening at MSV, what the team is achieving, is simply shameful, distressing and very, very sad. The fact that such a big club, with this stadium, with these great fans who would give the shirt off their back for the Zebras, finds itself in such a situation is a sporting tragedy. A lot of mistakes have been made in recent years.
What do you think they are?
It’s obvious: there have been too many coaches, of course. This season alone, there have been three with Torsten Ziegner, Engin Vural and Boris Schommers. And I don’t think that’s the end of it. There will be a fourth. You also have to question the structure of the squad. I don’t know if the players understand what’s at stake. They will move on after the season, regardless of how MSV performs. I don’t think everyone has understood what is at stake for MSV Duisburg, the city and its fans.
In January 2008, an offer came from Qatar. But I didn’t want to go at all. Rudi Bommer also said to Walter Hellmich that I must not be sold under any circumstances, otherwise it would be difficult to stay in the league. What did Hellmich do when Bommer was on a skiing holiday? He accepted the Qataris’ offer of almost 400,000 euros for me.
Youssef Mokhtari
What would relegation to the regional league mean?
It would be like closing a coal mine: it would probably mean the end of the club as far as the next few years of professional football are concerned. You would have to make do with very, very little. The Regionalliga is the death league for clubs like that. There are plenty of examples, such as Kickers Offenbach, Alemannia Aachen and Rot-Weiß Oberhausen. Essen can also tell you a thing or two about it. It took them almost 15 years to get back into the 3rd division.
What would you change if you were in charge at MSV?
I would structure the squad in such a way that there are experienced players, but also many young, very hungry guys in the team. I would also seek contact and advice from former players. As a small example, I have never received an invitation to an MSV game since I left. This is the only club in my career that treats former players this way. There is contact with all other ex-clubs.
Do you have any regrets about your time at MSV?
On the contrary: I was very popular with the fans and was also voted player of the promotion season. I would have liked to have extended my contract – regardless of the league. I’ll let you in on a secret: the then coach Rudi Bommer knew that I always had to be injected to get fit after a herniated disc. I played with pain. After the season, Rudi told me that I should take some time off to recover. I took a three-month break. Then, in January 2008, we received an offer from Qatar. But I didn’t want to leave at all. Rudi also told Walter Hellmich that I couldn’t be sold under any circumstances, otherwise it would be difficult to avoid relegation. So what did Hellmich do while Bommer was on a skiing holiday? He accepted the offer of almost 400,000 euros from Kataris for me. Since MSV had never offered me a contract extension, I accepted the offer from Qatar. But it was only valid for six months. I would have much rather stayed in Duisburg for another two years.
That was 16 years ago. What is Youssef Mokhtari doing today?
My brother Oualid and I have been running a football school for seven years. Around 80 percent of the kids who play at various youth academies every day play at our academy. We then provide them with additional individual training. Because let’s be honest: apart from goalkeepers, there is no individual training in clubs in Germany. We offer it to the boys.
But you also have a coaching A-license…
Yes, and that’s where I see myself in the future. Whether it’s head coach or part of a coaching team, I’m open to suggestions. In the end, it has to be right. I would help MSV in any way I can. Just ask.