Listening and implementing

During his three loan spells over the last two and a half years, Ben Bobzien has been able to amass plenty of experience, both on and off the pitch. The 22-year-old is now hoping to convince Bo Henriksen of his qualities in order to earn a place in the starting line-up of the club he’s grown up at. One of his teammates from the U14 days has already proven that it’s possible. 

“It would mean a lot to me,” said Bobzien, who is currently away with the team at training camp in Hopfgarten. “I’ve been playing here for a while now and used to be one of the ball boys on matchdays. That makes it even more special,” he said of his connection to the club. The Gießen native joined the FSV academy from TSG Wieseck in January 2015, going on to feature for all of the club’s youth teams up until the U23s. After making 29 appearances (9 goals, 5 assists) for the FSV reserves, Bobzien was able to earn his first minutes for the club’s first team. He made his competitive debut for FSV against VfB Lübeck in the DFB-Pokal in 2022/23. Now, the attacker is hoping to soon make his Bundesliga debut for the 05ers. “More importantly, I want to become a regular fixture in the first team,” he explained. 

First steps in Austria 

Bobzien has returned to Mainz after collecting experience via three separate loan spells. After a six-month stint at then-third-division side SV Elversberg, where Bobzien didn’t see much playing time, he then moved to Austria Lustenau. He then went to Austria Klagenfurt, where he contributed nine goals last season. “Ben has been able to establish himself as a regular starter in both of the last two seasons in Austria, while he took a strong step forward in his development in Klagenfurt,” FSV sporting director Niko Bungert explained after the club had extended Bobzien’s contract until 2028. Bobzien himself cites his abilities to move in the half-spaces, to make himself available for passes and his drive to score as areas in which he has improved in. 

Still plenty to learn 

In addition to helping further his development on the pitch, Bobzien’s time abroad also allowed him to grow as a person. It was the first time that he had been away from home on his own. “You can’t really prepare yourself for something like that,” he said. “But, it helped me to mature and really benefitted me.” 

His development on the pitch has also caught the eye of head coach Bo Henriksen and his teammates. Nadiem Amiri praised the 22-year-old and also spoke of his potential during training camp. “When someone like Nadiem says something like that, then it’s obviously great to hear. It not only boosts my confidence, but also means that I need to work hard in order to meet the expectations,” Bobzien said. The head coach had said prior to the pre-season camp that Bobzien still needs to improve his skills in the air in particular. “There’s still plenty for me to learn under Bo which will help me reach the next level in my development. I’m paying close attention and am trying to implement everything,” Bobzien said. 

“The mental aspect is very important in football” 

Bobzien is sharing a room with Paul Nebel while at training camp in Hopfgarten-Markt. After spending two years on loan at Karlsruher SC, Nebel has established himself as a regular starter for FSV since his return. He serves as an example of what Bobzien now hopes to emulate. “We’ve known each other since the U14s, so a long time,” Bobzien shared. “We’ve always gotten on well and talk about our experiences together.” The two both work with a mental coach, three to four times a season, as Bobzien shared. “We talk about some of the mental areas that I can improve on still, as it plays a big role in football.” 

As for right now, the 22-year-old is focused on giving his all in order to be able to follow in his roommates’ footsteps one day, even though he doesn’t want to draw too many comparisons between them. “In the end, I have to go my own way,” he explained. “Everyone follows their own path and does what’s best for themselves.”