Valentin Sponer is going to the European Amateur Championships with Bayern

Created: 07/10/2022, 09:05

By: Peter Loder

Valentin Sponer kicks for TSV 1860 Munich II. © BFV

Valentin Sponer from Kottgeiser has qualified together with the Bavarian selection for the finals of the European Amateur Championships.

Kottgeisering – The “Bavarian national team” had to play three games in Italy.

Valentin Sponer was not only in the starting eleven three times, but also played the entire 270 minutes of the game until the big triumph.

The 23-year-old right-back, who grew up in Bruck and Emmering and now lives in Kottgeisering, worked for TSV 1860 Munich II.

In the end, after 2-0 victories over Italy and North Macedonia, they qualified for the finals of the European Amateur Championships in June 2023. They also had to cope with an unfortunate 2-1 defeat against Jersey's England team.

But thanks to the support of the North Macedonians, the way to victory in the group was clear for the Bayern selection.

Group final against Italy: "It wasn't for the faint of heart"

The Bavarian Football Association (BFV) was commissioned by the DFB to take part in the European Championship because Bayern had finished second in the last Region's Cup three years ago as the organizer of the final round.

At the preliminary round of the 12th edition of the European Championship in Italy on Wednesday afternoon in the 7,000-seat stadium in Calcio, Bayern had to worry a lot until the happy end.

"It wasn't for the faint of heart," said delegation leader Jürgen Faltbacher.

The hosts, who went into the group final with the best starting position, had a number of top-class opportunities.

If they had won, the Squadra Azzurra (1-1 v North Macedonia, 1-0 v England) would certainly have had their ticket to the finals in their pockets.

But Bayern fought back.

And although they had won 2-0, the team stood in the center circle for a few minutes after the final whistle, shocked.

Because the English game against North Macedonia was still going on.

One goal and all dreams would have been shattered.

On the plane in the morning, back on the training ground in the evening

But then the cheering in coach Engin Yanova's team knew no bounds.

The bus ride back to the team hotel in Rome became a triumphal procession, after which Bavaria's winners conquered Roman nightlife.

On Thursday morning we flew back to Munich, in the evening Sponer was back at the TSV 1860 training ground. Because on Saturday the “little lions” have to play seventh in the Bavarian league against Schalding, who are second in the regional league.

Löwen talent Valentin Sponer: "My goal is to become a professional"

Valentin Sponer, who studied in the USA for three years and also became American champion with his college team from near San Francisco, returned to Germany in 2020 in the middle of the corona pandemic and has a contract with the Munich Lions that expires next year signed.

Since studying physics is the top priority, the 23-year-old has mainly played in the second team ever since.

"It's the most difficult time in my life," admits Sponer, whose father Stefan is long-time president of Bruck's water rats swimmers.

There, too, his son Valentin was a sprint club champion before he decided to play football.

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Six hours of sport, three hours of learning – this is what young Sponer's average daily routine looks like at the moment.

"Corona and the change of school together were very difficult." But now he has sports and studies under control again.

"My goal is to become a professional." But only after he has successfully completed his studies in about a year.

If everything goes according to plan, Valentin Sponer could become Germany's first doctor of physics in the Bundesliga.

"That would make me very happy." (Peter Loder)