With the attitude of a barker, Andreas Bockius reads the line-up at every home game of FSV Mainz 05. It always takes a while for the stadium announcer’s shrill voice to reach the player who is causing the highest level of noise in the fan stand. Number 29: Jonathan Burkardt.
Before the home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach (Friday 8.30 p.m.), no one is better suited to the symbolic figure of the Mainz soaring than the blonde daredevil, whom everyone here just calls “Jonny”. He’s something like the striker of the hour. While he only managed a measly three goals in his first three years as a professional, the 21-year-old has already scored eight competitive matches this season.
When national coach Hansi Flick made a flying visit to the Mainzer Arena two weeks ago, Burkardt shone in his 50th Bundesliga game against FC Augsburg (4: 1) with a goal and an assist. The subject quickly came up as to whether the U21 European champion could not also be called up for the World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein (November 11th) and Armenia (November 14th). But according to reports, it won’t go that fast. In the nomination round on Friday, Burkardt is to remain with the U21s, whose captain he has become under the new coach Antonio Di Salvo. The European Championship qualifier against Poland (November 12th) is considered too important for the German youth team. Taking on responsibility there, Burkardt recently stated, “has brought me enormous personal development.” The trial course in the A-Team can still wait.
The native of Darmstadt reminds many of his movements of André Schürrle, who also started in Mainz and later hit the decisive flank for Mario Götze in the 2014 World Cup final. Burkardt is also defined by his enormous pace: with a top speed of 34.75 kilometers per hour, he is one of the fastest strikers in the league.
The grounded impression that Burkardt gives off the pitch is also very special: Out of conviction, he does not maintain a profile on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. For him, social media is an illusory world that he doesn’t have to immerse himself in. And instead of his strengths, he prefers to emphasize how much he still needs to improve. About his bumpy beginnings, he says self-critically: “Back then I went dribbling a lot more often and played hara-kiri. Today I’m a little more mature and can hold out longer.”
The slender boy may not have become a muscular guy yet, but his physique is completely different. This is how coach Bo Svensson explains the development: “I’ve known Jonny since he was 15 or 16. He had a serious injury and had problems connecting, even physically.” The Dane is impressed by how the homegrown has struggled to the top: “This resistance made him better, and it will make him even better.”
Mainz strategy: Mateta and Quaison left, Burkardt and Onisiwo extended their contracts
The fact that the Mainz team are currently in fifth place has a lot to do with their reorganized offensive: Karim Onisiwo, who has also flourished, has at least as large a role here. The 24-year-old scored only one goal, but prepared five for it. Burkardt and Onisiwo form a double storm with a large radius of movement that is difficult for opposing defensive lines to grasp. And both feel as often sprinting backwards as forwards. The Mainz switching game is defined by the quick conquest of the ball.
The fact that Burkardt and Onisiwo can develop has something to do with the fact that the zero five exchanged the entire sporting management level in the greatest crisis in the club’s history. Board member Christian Heidel, who was brought back at the turn of the year, ex-trainer Martin Schmidt, who was hired as sports director, and football teacher Svensson quickly identified that solo entertainer Jean-Philippe Mateta had scored seven of the twelve goals of the season by winter, but the Frenchman had that with his many ego trips Internal climate bothered. So they let their best striker move to Crystal Palace, and in the summer the Swedish international Robin Quaison was allowed to go to Saudi Arabia.
With Burkardt and Onisiwo, however, the contracts were extended until 2024. The fact that their fulfillment is not insisted on if their development continues this way is part of the DNA of a club, whose audience before kick-off cheerfully sings a song that tells of being just a carnival club.