At the age of 23, Mark Flekken was a keeper at the third level in Germany. Now (almost 32 years old) he is going to make his debut for Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League and will get the chance under the bar at Oranje for the next two international matches.
He wanted to go to Bayer Leverkusen himself, but his wife might prefer. Flekken laughing: “When she heard about the interest of Leverkusen, her reaction was: we are going to arrange that. Yes, my wife was immediately enthusiastic. It is a family man.”
Flekken is a real Limburger and his wife too. He grew up in the border village of Bocholtz, an hour’s drive from his new club Leverkusen. For example, he makes a beautiful transfer from Premier League-Middenmoter Brentford to a German top club and almost feels it when coming home.
“It is almost impossible to go closer. But I am not going to live in Limburg. An hour and an hour ago with the car is physically not good. I don’t put that on my body. But it is nice that my daughters will see their grandparents more often. Private is a dream transfer.”
In terms of football it is also great, says Flekken. “The Bundesliga is also a top competition and I am going into the Champions League with Leverkusen. That is also possible from the list. Who would have thought that a few years ago? I didn’t.”
‘A slap for your head’
Flekken is a late bloomer. He still reached the top of football via a wonderful road. He is not the only one in the current Orange.
At the age of seventeen, Tijjani Reijnders played at the Apeldoorn fourth division team CSV’28 and Mats Wieffer was a kitchen champion footballer from Excelsior at the age of 22. But of all those late bloomers, Flekken is perhaps the largest.
“Eight years ago I was no longer needed at Greuther Fürth, at the second level in Germany. Looking for another club, was the message. I found it with Duisburg, but that’s how I ended up in the third Bundesliga. Another level lower. If you had told me then I would have gave you a blow to the Champions League.”
‘The KNVB mailed for contact details’
At Duisburg the advance started. Flekken promoted with the club to the 2. Bundesliga and earned a transfer to Bundesliga club Freiburg. But he was initially mainly on the reserve bench. When he finally became a regular first keeper at the highest level at the club in his fourth season, he was already 28 years old. Yet he soon came into the picture with Orange.
“I remember that the Freiburg team manager showed me an email with the KNVB logo on it. I thought: what is that? It turned out that the KNVB asked for my contact details. I left my record, I was so happy.”
We are now 3.5 years later and Flekken has eight international matches behind his name. As a reserve keeper, he reached the semi -final of the European Championship with Orange last year, after which he had a good season with Brentford. He had the highest rescue percentage of all keepers in the Premier League.
“You don’t have to be the most talented keeper in youth to get very far in professional football. I am a bit of proof of that.”
‘Ten Hag sent an app’
Flekken is grateful to many people, although he does not mention names. “I have had trainers who brought me technically further. And I have had trainers, among whom I grew from boy to man. All those people have shaped me. And never give up, that is also not unimportant if you want to get far. Perhaps the most important thing.”
At his new club Leverkusen, Flekken with Erik ten Hag gets a countryman as a trainer, but that did not play with his choice. “Before Ten Hag signed, I was personally already completed Leverkusen. Whether we had contact in the meantime? He sent an app when the transfer was official, but I didn’t talk to him yet. That is still coming.”
First Flekken waits the World Cup qualifying matches with the Dutch national team against Finland (Saturday in Helsinki) and Malta (Tuesday in Groningen) and then vacation. After more than a year he will start again in Orange, because first keeper Bart Verbruggen is missing due to physical problems.
“As a reserve keeper I know my role and the ranking. Even if I don’t play, it is always an honor to be with the Orange. I don’t want anyone an injury, certainly not Bart. But it’s always nice if you get the chance again. All the international matches I can pick up, I pick up. I do that with a smile on my face. I know which way I have taken.”
At 23, Mark Flekken was a goalkeeper at the third level in Germany. Now (Almost 32 Years Old), He Will Debut for Bayer Leverkusen in The Champions League and Will Have the Opportunity to Play for the Netherlands in the Next Two International Matches.
The really wanted to go to bayer leverkusen, but his wife may have wanted it even more. Flekken Said with a Laugh: “When she heard about leverkusen’s interest, her reaction was: We’re going to arrange that. Yes, my wife was immediately enthusiastic. She’s a family person.”
Flekken is a True Limburger, and so is his wife. Hey Grew Up in the Border Village of Bocholtz, An Hour’s Drive from His New Club Leverkusen. This is how he makes a wonderful transfer from prime minister League mid-table club Brentford to a German top club and it almost feels like coming home.
“It couldn’t be closer. But I’m not going to live in Limburg. Driving an hour back and forth every day is not physically good. I’m not going to do that to my body. But it’s nice that my daughter’s. Private, Itir a Draamparent’s more.
In Terms of Football, It’s also Great, Flekken Thinks. “The Bundesliga is also a top competition and I’m going to play in the Champions League with Leverkusen. That can also be ticked off the list. Who would have though that a few years ago? Not me.”
‘A limp in the face’
Flekken is a late bloomer. He Still Reached the Top of Football via A Miraculous Route. He is not the only one in the current orange.
Tijjani Reijnders Played for Apeldoorn’s Fourth-Tier Club CSV’28 at the Age of Seventeen and Mats Wieffer was a Kitchen Champion Division Footballer from Excelsior at the Age of 22. But of all Those Late Bloomers, Flekken May be the biggest.
“Eight years ago I was No Longer Needed at Greuther Fürth, at the second level in Germany. Look for Another Club, was the message. I found that with duisburg, but that’s how I ended up in the thTliga. One Wevel Lerdel Lerdel Lerdel Level Lerdel Level Lerdel Level. Orange and in the Champions League, I would have slapped you in the face. “
‘The KNVB Emailed to Request Contact Details’
The Rise was at Duisburg. Flekken promoted to the 2nd bundesliga with the club and earned a transfer to bundesliga club freiburg. But initially hey mainly sat on the bench there. When he finally Became a permanent first goalkeeper at the Highest Level in His Fourth Season at the Club, he was Already 28 Years Old. Yet he soon came in view with orange.
“I remember the Team Manager of Freiburg Showing me an email with the KNVB Logo on It. I Thought: What’s That? It Turned Out that the KNVB was Asking for My Contact Details. I Went Crazy, I was so happy.”
We are now 3.5 years later and flekken has eight international matches to his name. As a reserve goalkeeper, he reached the semi-finals of the European Championship with Oranje Last year, after which he had a good season with brentford. He had The Highest Save percentage of all goalkeepers in the Premier League.
“You don’t have to be the most talented goalkeeper in Youth to get very far in Professional Football. I’m a bit of proof of that.”
‘Ten Hag Sent A Text Message’
Flekken is Grateful to Many People, Although He does not name Names. “I have trainers who have tasks me further technicular. And I have trainers under whom I grew from a boy to a man. All those people have shaped me. And never giving up is also not unimportant if you want to get far. Maybe the most Important Thing.”
At His New Club Leverkusen, Flekken Will Have A Compatriot As Coach in Erik ten Hag, But That Did Not Play a Role in His Choice. “Before ten Hag Signed, I had Already Personally Reached an Aalreement with Leverkusen. Have we bone in contact in the Meantime? He sent a textage when the transfer was official, but I have not spoken to him yet. That will come.”
First, Flekken Awaits the World Cup Qualifying Matches with the Dutch National Team Against Finland (Saturday in Helsinki) and Malta (Tuesday in Groningen), Followed by Vacation. After more than a year, he will start again in Oranje, because first goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen is absent due to physical problems.
“As a reserve goalkeeper I know my role and the pecking order. Even if I don’t play, it is always an honor to be orange. I don’t want anyone an injury, eSpecialless not bart. But it is always nice to do. Smile on my face.