Schopp: “It’s another level”

On Thursday afternoon, Konstantin Schopp is sitting in the stands of the Bruchwegstadion in front of journalists. It’s a place that is associated with special memories, not just for the Mainz 05 first-team players, but also the club’s academy products. In the 2023/24 season, FSV’s youth side played out magical nights here in the Youth League against the likes of FC Barcelona and Manchester City. Schopp, too, gathered experience in this competition. Last season, he was part of the Sturm Graz side that reached the round of 16 stage of the competition, where they were defeated on penalties by Olympiakos. For Schopp, however, it certainly wasn’t the highlight of his last year in football which ended with him being signed by 1. FSV Mainz 05 and moving to the Bundesliga.

The 19-year-old initially established himself as a regular fixture of SK Sturm’s second team, amassing 25 appearances in the Austrian 2. Liga. He also made his debut in the Austrian Bundesliga and the Champions League, as well as for the Austria U21 national team. That’s why Schopp, described as a “highly talented centre-back” who possesses the “physical and technical ability you need to be a Bundesliga player” by FSV’s sporting director Niko Bungert, was on a lot of clubs’ wishlists. The Austrian youth international would end up opting for the 05ers in order to continue his promising development at the Bruchweg. “I was very happy the first time my agent mentioned ‘Mainz 05’. I found it unbelievable that a club like this would be interested in me,” admitted Konstantin Schopp, son of former Bundesliga player Markus.

“It’s another level”

The 1.95m tall centre-back is aware that the leap from the Austrian second division to the highest level of German football is a very big one. Schopp wants to approach the challenge with self-belief and humility. “The coach thinks that I am capable of playing a role this season. I’ll work hard for it,” said Schopp, describing the clear plan that the 05ers’s management and head coach Bo Henriksen showed him. But he also knows that he will have to adapt to the high intensity. “It’s another level and will definitely take time. But I think that I’m the right track.”

The 19-year-old named Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk (“he exudes calm on the ball”) and former Spain international Sergio Ramos (“he scored a lot of important goals and didn’t just defend”) as his sporting role models. After the first weeks of training, Mainz stalwart Stefan Bell has been added to the list of players that Schopp likes taking a closer look at on the pitch. “It’s just the positional play and the way he goes in for aerial duels. Also, the way he solves problems, even though he isn’t the quickest anymore,” detailed Schopp, who views his aerial ability, positive defending and build-up play as his strengths.

Settling in and establishing himself

His goals for the first few months in Mainz are to improve his own game, get used to the level of athleticism and, little by little, establish himself in the team. “It’s so that I might be able to play a role as early as this season.” In the short-term, Schopp wants to settle in privately. “Looking for somewhere to live is a bit more difficult,” he admitted. At the moment he, just like Australian new arrival Kasey Bos who he has hit it off with at Mainz, is living at a hotel. “But I already like the city a lot – the cathedral and going for walks on the Rhine are cool.”