Episode 46 ’Danke BVB’ with Stoke City midfielder, Bosnia-Herzegovina international Mario Vrančić (BVB II 11/12)

Thank you for your interest in the BvB London fan community podcast as every week the focus of the show will be on exploring a facet of football life with a focus on Borussia Dortmund by talking to experts, fans, and players and coaches. 

People, including journalists, who make up the football world including decision-makers and who know the football world and the world of BVB well.

The aim of the podcast is to make Bundesliga, BVB and international football more accessible.

On today's show, our guest is Bosnia-Herzegovina international and Stoke City midfielder Mario Vrančić.

The 1.87m midfielder, who played 37 matches for BVB II scoring an impressive 16 goals between 2011-12, has notched up 27 matches scoring 3 goals for 'The Potters' this season.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina international who has gained 6 caps so far, previously played for Germany at U17-U20 levels.

The 32-year-old played for Norwich City between 2017-21 playing 123 matches and scoring 15 goals. 

Vrančić worked his way up in the Mainz 05 youth system before joining BVB II in 2011.  Paderborn 07 in 2012 playing three seasons with the East Westfalia team.

In 2015 the talented midfielder joined 2. Liga club (second tier) Darmstadt 98 where he notched up 45 matches scoring 6 goals for 'Die Lillien' who play their football at the 17,000 capacity 'Stadion am Böllenfalltor'.

Vrančić left Carrow road for Stoke City where he plays alongside players like former England international Phil Jagielka and Wales international Joe Allen and Scotland's Steve Fletcher. 

On today's show, we discuss life in the Bundesliga, the Championship and the Premier League over a career that has spanned 15 years so far. 

1. First steps in football growing up in Germany.

2. Academy life and playing with Mainz 05 alongside Neven Subotic, current BVB coach Marco Rose and current Mainz coach Bo Svensson and Andre Schuerrle. 

2. David Wagner and BVB come calling. A chance to join the U23 of a  champions league winner in the team with Ilkay Gundogan, Moritz Leitner Mitch Langerak, Marcel Halstenberg and winning the title in the Regionaliga-West. 

3. A break into the Bundesliga a two-year contract with newly promoted Paderborn 07, Bundesliga debut against Hertha Berlin, a brace against VFL Bochum and playing against BVB.

4. 'Die Lillien' transfer to Darmstadt 98 reunion with US international Terence Boyd how does the 2. Liga compare to the Championship? 

5. 'Die Kanarienvoegel' 4 years in East-Anglia with the yellows, debut against Fulham. Life in the Championship. First goal against Spurs. winning promotion to the Premier League twice. 

6. Daniel Farke's 'german gang' at Carrow road; Stiepemann, Hernandez, Leitner, Trybull, Klose and Franke, Heise and Passlack.

7. What makes the Premier League special? Encounters with legends and spectacular football grounds of the top English league. 

8. International career including winning the European U19 Championship with Germany and switch to Bosnia-Herzegovina, debut against the 'Red Devils' and Axel Witsel, just how good is Edin Hazard? 

9. Current season at Stoke City and future plans after the active career.

We hope you enjoy the show, remember to send us your comments, share the show with friends and to apply for tickets contact the club via the website which is borussiadortmundlondon.co.uk or join the London BvB community at our online group at Facebook.com/borussiadortmundfanclubengland.

During the season you can also come to watch a game at our meet-up Stammtisch at the Naughty Bar, just off Oxford Street, in Cleveland street central London.

 

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