New man for the Lions' goal: David Richter. © Imago
TSV 1860 has its first new signing. Goalkeeper David Richter comes from Kickers Offenbach and is expected to give Marco Hiller a boost.
Munich – 13 professionals have left the club, the first of three planned new signings is just around the corner. A small surprise is the position: 98 percent of the fans would probably have seen the most urgent need for action in the offensive, but the lions put the cart before the transfer horse from behind. First comes a new goalkeeper, a replacement for backup keeper Tom Kretzschmar, who has left his Lions after 17 years (!). The idea behind it: New competition in the box – because Marco Hiller has the weakest of his five seasons as a third-division professional behind him, according to unanimous opinion.
The Lions have chosen a young goalkeeper who is considered a huge talent in professional circles. Quite literally, because David Richter (24), who comes from Kickers Offenbach, is 1.96 m long. Regular observers of the regional league count him among the outstanding keepers of the high-quality Südweststaffel.
TSV 1860: Ex-Lion Schmidt praises Richter
Strengths: Reflexes on the line and one-on-one duels. Some third-division clubs had him on their list, but 1860 was said to be the most persistent. Ex-Lion Alexander Schmidt, who had coached Richter during his short guest appearance at Bieberer Berg (summer 2022), judges: "Good goalkeeper with a good character. The competition with Max Engl (another ex-Lion and Hiller competitor) kept him busy, but he stabilized super over the course of the season, as Sascha Rausch, my goalkeeper coach at the time, confirmed to me. If he feels the coach's 100 percent confidence, he can surpass himself."
Just like at his former club, FSV Union Fürstenwalde, where he experienced his first great moments - there were two with which he made national headlines. In September 2019, he scored a last-minute equaliser from the field (to draw 2-2 in the Regionalliga derby against Viktoria Berlin). He received similar attention in the first round of the DFB-Pokal 20/21. With half a dozen saves, he drove Wolfsburg's first division striker to despair. In the end, VfL won 4-1, but the trade journal kicker praised: "Great performance by the goalkeeper." That's exactly what he wants to build on – performances that bring him closer to his goal, professional football.
TSV 1860: Richter wants to play in the 2nd Bundesliga
When asked about his goals, Richter said as a 20-year-old: "Step by step, I'm still young. Nevertheless, my goal is to finish at least in the second Bundesliga. I firmly believe that I can do it." At 1860 it goes one league higher. Hiller, according to the plan of sporting director Günther Gorenzel, should see the commitment as an incentive.
Fun fact: Alex Schmidt, Richter's sponsor in Offenbach, could soon see Gorenzel again in Klagenfurt: In July, the Augsburg native will start as U18 coach at Austria, Gorenzel may soon start as sporting director. But that's another topic. Before the Austrian is allowed to leave 1860, he also has to bag the other new signings: a striker and midfielder. (ulk)