Michael Zetterer was given the chance as a regular keeper in Werder Bremen’s second division season. Now he has to be satisfied with the reserve role again. The contract of the long-time Werder goalkeeper expires in the summer. Several clubs from home and abroad should show interest.

The friendly against Heeslinger SC (Oberliga) on Tuesday evening was goalkeeper Michael Zetterer’s first start in a Werder jersey for a long time. The 27-year-old is number two at Werder behind Jiri Pavlenka. Zetterer only has one appearance across all competitions this season. In the 0-1 draw against FC Augsburg on matchday six, he came on for Pavlenka in the 29th minute. He can continue to wait for a starting eleven.

The situation will probably also influence Michael Zetterer’s future. The goalkeeper’s contract expires in the summer. Then he could leave the Bundesliga returnees free of charge. Even a change in winter is not excluded according to information from the Deichstube. Several clubs from home and abroad are said to be interested in the long-standing number two.

Werder Bremen’s attitude is obvious. “We feel very well positioned in the goalkeeping area – with Jiri Pavlenka as number one, Michael Zetterer as a substitute and two exciting goalkeepers behind them,” emphasizes Werder sporting director Frank Baumann. No changes are planned for the winter. Baumann says about Zetterer’s contract: “In the next few weeks we will discuss with him what role he sees himself in and what we want him to do.” If the 27-year-old continues to accept the role as number two, a contract extension is conceivable.

In Werder Bremen’s second division season, Zetterer got his chance. There he played a bigger role. At least at the beginning of the season. Initially, Zetterer was seeded under the coach at the time, Markus Beginning. When the results were no longer correct, Jiri Pavlenka was given preference again. From the twelfth match day, the native of Munich took a seat on the bench without exception. Nothing changed under Ole Werner.

The role of substitute goalkeeper is not new to Michael Zetterer. Since moving from SpVgg Unterhaching to Weser in the summer of 2014, the former U21 national keeper has been second choice. In the meantime, Zetterer was loaned to Austria Klagenfurt and PEC Zwolle. By the summer he has to decide whether to make a permanent move to another club. There is currently no prospect of a role as regular keeper at Werder.

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This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as Contract expires: What will become of Werder keeper Michael Zetterer? released.