“We could get going straight away”: First-team players return to the training pitch

Anthony Caci’s return to training with the Mainz 05 first-team squad got off to a more painful start than expected. On his birthday, the Frenchman was not only treated to a song from his teammates, but also to plenty of balls being thrown at him. In midsummer temperatures of just under 30 degrees, Mainz 05 began their first session of the 2026/27 season with 29 players and in good spirits.

After a warm up and some small game based exercises, the coaching staff shifted the focus to a match related drill. The first training session lasted almost two hours in total, which Phillip Tietz described as “a typical Urs Fischer session”. “Today we had young players, loan players, returnees and new signings with us. Every training session should be used to give the boys something that can help them get used to us,” said Urs Fischer, explaining his slightly longer opening session. “The boys had performance tests yesterday and the day before and achieved excellent results. So we could really get going straight away. But it is about easing into things, also with the friendly at the weekend in mind. We are working on the foundations and gradually increasing the intensity,” Fischer added.

Four new signings on the pitch

Alongside the established first-team players, there were also several new faces out on the pitch. New arrivals Eric Martel (1. FC Köln), Ransford Königsdörffer (Hamburger SV), Fabio Gruber (1. FC Nürnberg) and Otto Ruoppi (Kuopion Palloseura), whom Mainz 05 had already signed in the winter, were among those introduced to the fans for the first time. Loan returnees Marco Richter (Darmstadt 98), Hyun-Seok Hong (KAA Gent) and Ben Bobzien (Dynamo Dresden) also completed the first session. The training group was rounded out by academy players Jeremiah Debrah, Alynho Haidara, Daniel Imafidon, Rael Nakuzola and Taiyu Yamasaki, who were all fully involved.

Jae-Sung Lee (South Korea), Kaishu Sano (Japan) and Nadiem Amiri (Germany) were not yet available following their national teams’ exits from the World Cup, while Benedict Hollerbach and Silas also remained sidelined through injury. The two Austrians Phillipp Mwene and Stefan Posch are still involved at the World Cup and will face Spain in the round of 32 on Thursday at 21:00. Mainz 05 captain Silvan Widmer also remains in the tournament with Switzerland, who take on Algeria on Friday at 05:00.

Tickets still available for club partner friendly in Pfeddersheim

The first week of training will end with Mainz 05’s club partner friendly away to TSG Pfeddersheim on Saturday at 16:00. Tickets are still available.