The situation of MSV Duisburg in the 3rd division is not getting any better at the start of 2024. The Zebras started with a 1:4 in Munich. One former player is very worried.

The die-hard fans of MSV Duisburg will certainly remember Youssef Mokhtari. “Mokhi”, as he is known, played at Westender Straße between July 2006 and January 2008.

41 games, 14 goals, 11 assists – a strong record for the 24-time Moroccan international (ten goals) in Zebrastreifen. He was promoted to the Bundesliga with MSV, was voted Player of the Season 2006/2007 by the fans and was an absolute crowd favorite at the Wedau.

All the more reason for him – to this day – to be sad to leave Duisburg-Meiderich. And: to this day, he is still rooting for the Zebras and is very worried about the traditional club.

For our column – “What’s actually going on?” – we spoke to Youssef Mokhtari (44).

Youssef Mokhtari, how do you assess MSV Duisburg’s current situation in the 3rd division?

What is happening at MSV, what the team is doing, is simply shameful, shocking and very, very sad. The fact that such a great club, with this stadium, with the great fans who give their last shirt for the Zebras, has found itself in such a situation is a sporting tragedy. A lot of mistakes have been made in recent years.

Which ones in your opinion?

That’s obvious: of course there have been too many coaches. There have been three this season with Torsten Ziegner, Engin Vural and Boris Schommers. And I don’t think it will stay that way. There will be a fourth. You also have to question the squad structure. I don’t know if the players have understood what it’s all about. They will move on after the season, regardless of how MSV performs. I don’t think everyone has understood what it’s all about for MSV Duisburg, the city and its fans

In January 2008 I received an offer from Qatar. But I didn’t want to go. Rudi Bommer also told 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 his skiing vacation? He accepted the offer of almost 400,000 euros from the Qataris for me.

Youssef Mokhtari

What would relegation to the regional league mean?

You can compare it to the closure of a coal plant: It would probably be the end for the club as far as the next few years towards professional soccer are concerned. You would have to bake very, very small rolls. The regional league is a league of death for such clubs. There are plenty of examples like Kickers Offenbach, Alemannia Aachen or 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 lads 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. That’s the only club in my career that treats former players like that. There is contact with all other ex-clubs

Do you have any regrets from 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 also have liked to extend my contract – regardless of the league. I’ll tell you something now: the coach at the time, Rudi Bommer, knew that I always had to be injected after a slipped disc. I played with pain. After the season, Rudi told me that I should heal up now. I took three months off. Then, in January 2008, I received an offer from Qatar. But I didn’t want to go. Rudi also told 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 his skiing vacation? He accepted the offer of almost 400,000 euros from the Qataris for me. As 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 preferred to stay in Duisburg for another two years.

That was 16 years ago now. What does Youssef Mokhtari actually do today?

We’ve been running a soccer academy with my brother Oualid for seven years. Around 80 percent of the kids who play in various NLZs every day play in our academy. They then receive additional individual training with us. Because let’s be honest: apart from the goalkeepers, there is no individual training in the clubs in Germany. We offer it to the boys.

But you also have a trainer A license…

Yes, and that’s where I see myself in the future. Whether as a head coach or in a coaching team: I’m happy to listen to anything. It has to be right in the end. I would immediately help MSV in any area. You just have to ask me