'I hadn't realised how much I'd missed it' - Niclas Füllkrug nets 50th Werder Bremen goal on emotional return
A second-half penalty in a DFB cup tie against fifth-tier opposition may not sound like a goal that would rank among the most memorable of Niclas Füllkrug’s career - but it will certainly be up there with the most enjoyable the returning Werder Bremen striker has ever scored.
Füllkrug, who rejoined Werder on loan from West Ham United last week, netted his 50th goal for the club in their 3-0 first-round victory over Lüneburger SK Hansa on Saturday afternoon, sending goalkeeper Arne Exner the wrong way from the spot eight minutes into the second half.
Jens Stage had given Bremen an 11th-minute lead at St. Pauli’s Millerntor-Stadion, with Füllkrug’s fellow summer arrival Ludovit Reis completing the scoring for the Bundesliga outfit late in the second half.
It was not necessarily a vintage performance from Daniel Thioune’s men, but Füllkrug cut a delighted figure at full time, telling Sky Germany: “The best thing about today was seeing the Werder fans again. I really missed them.
“We’ve enjoyed a special journey together, Werder and I. It was a special afternoon.”
Over 14 years have passed since Füllkrug - then a fresh-faced 18-year-old - made his debut for Bremen under club legend Thomas Schaaf in January 2012.
After formative spells at Greuther Fürth, Nuremberg and Hannover, Füllkrug returned to the Weserstadion as an established Bundesliga striker in 2019. He was unable to prevent the club from dropping into Bundesliga 2 in 2021, but his goals played a major role in helping Werder clinch promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
He finished as the Bundesliga’s joint-top scorer in 2023/24, his 16 goals earning him a move to Borussia Dortmund at the end of that campaign.
Having now returned to Bremen on a season-long loan deal, Füllkrug will be desperate to add to his tally of 50 strikes in 125 club appearances in all competitions. However, it is not only Füllkrug’s goals that could prove immensely valuable to Werder in 2026/27.
Watch: Füllkrug arrives at Werder
“I hope I can offer the team a bit of support up front, and be a reliable figure for our youngsters,” he said. “Paul [Erevbenagie] came on today - I’ve been watching him all pre-season. He’s a great character and a good lad. The same goes for Salim [Musah] and Ceddy [Itten]. It’s important that they’re successful too.”
Füllkrug’s importance is not lost on his new head coach, who is pleased with the veteran frontman’s progress since his move from London.
“It was important to have Ludovit and Niclas on the pitch today,” Thioune told Werder’s official website. “In the end, all that matters is that we’re through to the next round. We’re very happy.”
Freiburg, Bremen’s opponents in their opening Bundesliga match of the season next weekend, will naturally offer a much sterner test than Lüneburg did on Saturday, but Füllkrug cannot wait to resume his German top-flight career - even if he has to wait a little longer for his first game back at his beloved Weserstadion.
“The love I’ve received has been incredible,” he said, reflecting on a whirlwind few days since returning to the club. “I’d never have thought it would snowball the way it has. It’s been wonderful. I’m just very pleased to be back.
“In two years, I hadn’t realised how much I’d missed it.”
