Nick Woltemade (Bremen, 2/14/2002) knows how difficult it is to be a ‘prophet in his own land’. In 2020, he surpassed the legendary Thomas Schaaf to become the youngest debutant (17 years, 11 months and 16 days) in Werder Bremen history.
In 2018-19, with the under 17 team, he scored 18 goals in 24 games and in 2022-23, during his loan to Elversberg (Third division), he registered 17 goals and 12 assists. He failed, however, to transfer those records to Werder’s first team. He left the Weserstadion last summer with a very poor record: two goals in 51 games (1,481′).
“I would have liked more support and conviction from time to time. I didn’t have the feeling of feeling important, at least last season,” the German, under-21 international, acknowledged to ‘Kicker’ before joining Stuttgart for free.
“Matthaus told me: ‘They’ve signed a bomb'”
His talent, even in dribs and drabs, did not go unnoticed by Lothar Matthaus. “He always talked to me like a madman about him. He told me: ‘They’ve signed a bomb,’ reveals commentator Wolff-Christoph Fuss, who, half jokingly, defined Woltemade as “a lanky guy, similar to Peter Crouch, of 2 .40 meters high.”
Woltemade is a lanky guy, similar to Peter Crouch, 2.40 meters tall
Wolff-Christoph Fuss
To tell the truth, he is 1.98 meters tall, but it is deceptive. “He’s technically skilled, very flexible and relatively fast,” says Fuss. In fact, despite standing out as ‘9’, he can also act further back, as a playmaker.
Nick Woltemade’s Radar Chart.Driblab
Four goals and one assist in five games
Woltemade also had a hard time breaking through in Stuttgart. In fact, he was left out of the Champions League list. The former Werder Bremen player has taken advantage of the injuries to Undav and El Bilal Touré to vindicate himself in a big way.
He has four goals and one assist in the last five games. He scored in the defeat against Eintracht (2-3), scored twice in the comeback against Unión Berlin (3-2) and scored (and assisted) again against Heidenheim (1-3). To that we must add that he has scored three goals in three Cup games. In other words: this season he has produced nine goals in only five starts.
“I had good feelings from the beginning. I knew that the moment had to come when I could be on the field and earn the coach’s trust,” says Woltemade.
I knew the time would come when I would enter the field and earn the coach’s trust.
Nick Woltemade
Matthaus is not the only former Bayern player he has conquered. “He has excellent technique for being 1.98 meters tall. As a striker, a big part of the game consists of retaining the ball without having it stolen from you and he can do it thanks to his very long legs. It is almost impossible to steal the ball from him. He is a great player “I declare myself a fan of his,” says Dietmar Hamann.
He has excellent technique to measure 1.98 meters. It is almost impossible to steal the ball from him. I declare myself a fan of his: he is a great player
Dietmar Hamann
In Germany there are those who even see in Woltemade an alternative in the selection for the two ‘tanks’ that Nagelsmann manages: Füllkrug and Kleindienst.
Woltemade’s expected goals and touches in the opponent’s area compared to the rest of the major league forwards. Driblab
The recurring comparison with Crouch
Woltemade’s parallel with Crouch is not unique to Wolff-Christoph Fuss. It comes from afar, from his time at Werder Bremen.
Woltemade’s completed dribbles and xG per shot compared to the rest of the major league forwards.Driblab
“Florian Kohfeldt – the coach who gave him his Bundesliga debut – always called me ‘Crouchie’ and I liked it. Now, for most people, I am ‘Langer’ (the tallest) or simply Nick,” reveals Woltemade , which others, more daring, dare to compare with Rudi Völler. Not only because of his football, but also because of his long, messy hair. The truth is that, at 1.98 meters, he has no ‘ceiling’. Literal.
