Lee: “Every moment here is a highlight”

Jae-sung Lee is and will remain a 05er. The 33-year-old confirmed that this month by signing a contract extension and committing his future to the club. The South Korea international didn’t hesitate much when asked whether he was open to signing a new deal. “It wasn’t a difficult decision for me because I feel very comfortable here and it’s a dream for me to play in the Bundesliga. I’d like to stay as long as I can and continue to perform well,” said the midfielder when speaking about his plans going forward and his current situation.

A club with a “family atmosphere”

During his four and a half years with the 05ers, Lee has experienced so much that it is difficult for him to single out just one particular memory. “Every moment here is a highlight, really, but if I had to choose one, it would definitely be qualifying for the Conference League last season. I’m sure there are still many more great moments to come.” Lee says he is currently very happy with life at the club as well. “There’s a real family atmosphere at Mainz. You can feel that everyone is there for one another, and when you hear the fans in the stadium sing your name, it just makes you so happy.” After a tricky start to the season, Mainz have stabilised in recent weeks. According to the 33-year-old, much of that is down to the influence of Urs Fischer, who took over as head coach in December 2025. “I feel that the coach wants us to develop a real togetherness and become a formidable unit. He has a rational and logical way of thinking, gives us specific instructions and provides clear structures, all of which help us a lot,” said Lee.

“We have to play the football that defines us”

The South Korea international is therefore optimistic when it comes to the team’s aims for the rest of the season. “We definitely want to stay in the league and remain competitive in the Bundesliga. We’re also in the round of 16 of the Conference League, so of course we want to progress and reach the quarter-finals.” For that to happen, the whole squad needs the right mindset. “We have to understand that every game is like a final. I think our home matches in particular can be very important,” said Lee, who won the AFC Champions League with Jeonbuk Hyundai in 2016.

Looking ahead to the immediate future, Mainz are gearing up for a trip to Leverkusen this weekend (Saturday, 15:30 CET). The visitors will be up against a Champions League side currently sitting sixth in the Bundesliga table. Lee expects a tough challenge, but believes it is one the team can handle. “It definitely won’t be an easy game, but the head coach always tells us to play the football that defines us here at Mainz. Our away games in Munich and Leipzig showed that we can be successful and pick up points playing that way – and that’s exactly how we need to approach the game in Leverkusen.”