Robin Koch: Who is the Germany defender Eintracht Frankfurt had to sign permanently?
Eintracht Frankfurt had to sign Robin Koch permanently after an impressive season back in Germany where he hopes to shine again.
Stats correct as of 6 September 2024
Age: 28 (born 17 July 1996)
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Position: Centre-back/defensive midfielder
Country: Germany (nine caps)
Debuting in the Bundesliga with Freiburg, Koch was on the books of Leeds for three seasons. He made 73 English Premier League appearances, having initially caught the eye of numerous clubs in Germany. The 6'3" defender, who can also play in holding midfield, averaged 64 per cent for aerial challenges won in 2019/20, whilst finding a man with 89 per cent of his attempted passes, putting him in the top 25 for that particular category league-wide.
Watch: The best of Robin Koch
Koch spent his formative years in the fourth tier with Eintracht Trier, before getting his big break at Kaiserslautern - featuring 27 times in Bundesliga 2 in 2016/17. He played in 82 Bundesliga games for Freiburg, collecting just nine yellow cards across three seasons of German top-flight football. Indeed, the Germany international - capped for the first time in October 2019 - is still to be sent off at senior level.
The 27-year-old centre-half returned to the Bundesliga ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, signing a season-long loan at Frankfurt. Immediately a first-team regular, Koch missed all-but three league games as Die Adler earned European qualification. He also wore the captain's armband twice in the top-flight and once more in the UEFA Europa Conference League. An excellent season was capped with a call-up to Julian Nagelsmann's Euro 2024 squad and although he didn't appear, Frankfurth had seen enough to bring him back on a full-time basis.
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Plays a bit like: Emre Can
A rangy battering ram happy at home at the heart of the defence or in defensive midfield, Koch shares more than a few traits with Borussia Dortmund and Germany enforcer Emre Can. Frankfurt's new defensive specialist boasts a tremendous willingness to get stuck in and get his hands dirty, and comes complete with the necessary engine to snap at opposition players' heels long past the allotted 90 minutes are up.
Did you know?
Robin is not the first Koch to play in the Bundesliga. Dad Harry - also a central defender - was part of the Kaiserslautern team that became the first and, as yet, only promoted team in Bundesliga history to win the Meisterschale in 1997/98. A 1995/96 DFB Cup and 1996/97 Bundesliga 2 champion with the Red Devils, he hung up his boots in 2007, a veteran of 307 professional appearances at club level, including 187 in the Bundesliga.
What they're saying
"It fills you with pride as a Dad, when your son follows in your footsteps. I didn't always think he'd make it, but he's developed phenomenally." - Robin's father, Harry
"Robin is a warrior!" - Freiburg head coach Christian Streich
"Very excited and incredibly proud to be in the squad at our home European Championship! I will go ALL IN! Here we go!" - Koch on Instagram after his call-up to Germany's Euro 2024 squad
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