In his seven years at Borussia, Jonas Hofmann has gone from a being a young signing to one of the side’s leaders. In an interview, he speaks about the necessary qualities of a leader, his contract extension and much more.
Jonas, when someone asks you which current player embodies Borussia Mönchengladbach the best, who would you say?
Jonas Hofmann: A few players come to mind. First of all, I’d say “Flaco” and Tony, who have both been at the club forever. But also Chris Kramer, Lars Stindl or “Sippi”. There really are a lot of players who have spent several years here. It’s quite rare to see so much consistency, and it speaks volumes about the club.
There’s no denying your answer, but how do you see yourself in this regard? You’ve been here longer than seven years, have made over 200 appearances for VfL and recently signed another contract extension. Does that make you also one of the faces of the club?
Hofmann: When you spend several years at a club, you could certainly say something like that. However, I don’t view myself as the ‘face’ of the club, I’m not the right guy for that. I’m a passionate member of the squad and love playing for Gladbach, and I’m constantly trying to push the club on.
Looking beyond just how many appearances you’ve made for the club, you’ve also matured into one of the team’s leaders in the last two or three seasons. Would you agree?
Hofmann: Yes, I would. When I came to Borussia in 2016, I faced some initial teething problems, but that soon completely changed, particularly when Dieter Hecking came in. As I played more and more regularly, I started to develop more as a player, and I also matured as a person.
Was it a gradual process of taking on more and more responsibility? Or was there a certain event that triggered it?
Hofmann: It’s certainly a long, gradual process. When you mature personally and mental over time, that also helps you from a sporting perspective. Of course, you also need a bit of luck. For me, Dieter Hecking simply went: “Hey, someone’s sitting on the bench there, who hasn’t really come to the fore yet.” Then he trusted me and gave me opportunities. So yeah, you need that bit of luck and to be in the right place at the right time. However, when the window of opportunity opens, you have to be ready to take it yourself. You need to be on it and seize the chance.
What sets a leader apart? How do you take on responsibility for the team?
Hofmann: You always need to be asking yourself: How can we improve ourselves as a team? What can I do to contribute to making us that little bit better every day? And then you need to drive the team forward with performances on the pitch. You should also know what you’re getting on the pitch from one of the leading players. That’s what’s most important. As an attacking player, my role is to get goals and assists for the team. Beyond that, you also need to be prepared to speak out and voice your opinion, even if it’s not what some people may want to hear. You also need to be there for younger players and any questions they may have.
How does the Jonas Hofmann, who arrived in Mönchengladbach in 2016, differ to the current Jonas Hofmann?
Hofmann: Alongside my development on the pitch, injuries have also made me a more mature player. They’re also a part of the development process. They teach you mental strength and that you should never give up. When I came to Borussia, I was 23 years old. At that age, I think I lot think they’re already grown up and have an assured, established world view, but I don’t think that you can attest to having that until your late twenties. Strictly speaking, the process of maturing never truly ends. In your late twenties and early thirties, you perhaps have a better idea of what you actually want.
You seem to know exactly what you want, signing a contract until 2025 and committed yourself to the club. Do tell us: How do you come to decide whether to extend your contract or not?
Hofmann: I chat to my fiancée, my family and my agent. I find it important to make such decision with a calm head and to take my time with it. I’ll sleep on it for a while and reconsider everything thoroughly. Such decisions are too important to simply rush into it. I keep an eye on how my feelings about a possible decision develop and whether I feel comfortable with that. And then it can be called the right decision.
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