Maxi Beier on his "crazy" rise to the top

bundesliga.com caught up with the 21-year-old to discuss his astonishing rise, and much more besides...

bundesliga.com: How was your home debut for Dortmund in your new stadium against Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 1?

Maximilian Beier: “It was fun. I was a bit nervous at the beginning because seeing 81,000 fans and the Yellow Wall is pretty intense. But once I got on the pitch I knew what I had to do and everything was clear to me.”

bundesliga.com: How were you welcomed here? 

Beier: “Everyone showed me a bit of everything and welcomed me well. I already knew a few from the national team, so it wasn’t that hard for me.”

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bundesliga.com: What are your thoughts when you look back at the last six months? You've become part of the Germany national team, you participated at EURO 2024 and also transferred to Dortmund.

Beier: “It’s crazy. Last year I was playing in the second division, then at Hoffenheim. I had a good season there, then the national team, and now here. I’d like it to continue like this. I’m very happy with how things have turned out. I don’t really know what to say right now!”

bundesliga.com: Some legendary players have recently retired from the national team. How do you find out about that?

Beier: “Well, like everyone else, I think. You kind of had an inkling already. With Toni [Kroos], it was clear, but with Manu [Neuer], İlkay [Gündoğan] and Thomas [Müller] I found out through Instagram, like everyone else. There wasn’t a message or anything in the group beforehand.”

bundesliga.com: What does it mean for a young player like you to have played alongside them?

Beier: “I was just proud to have played with them because ever since I was a kid, I have admired them. When I was younger Manu was in goal for Germany. I was just a little boy, and to play with them was a dream come true. I’m very proud.”

bundesliga.com: Who do you think is the greatest German footballer of all time?

Beier: “Toni Kroos."    

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bundesliga.com: Speaking of being a little boy, how did you start out playing football? 

Beier: “As soon as I could walk my dad put a ball in front of my feet. Before that, he said he wouldn’t start with me until I could walk. Once I took my first steps, he put a ball in front of me.”

bundesliga.com: Did you play for clubs as a kid?

Beier: “I started in my local village team then moved to a bigger club in the city, and later took the step to Cottbus. It was hard because I was 13 and I was in boarding school from Monday to Saturday, living there, training, going to school, and then I was home from Saturday to Sunday before going back. It wasn’t easy as a 13-year-old. I was really homesick, but I got used to it. And then at 15 I moved to Hoffenheim, which was even further away, but by then it wasn’t a problem anymore because I was used to it from Cottbus.”

bundesliga.com: But you couldn’t visit home as often?

Beier: “No. I saw my family maybe every three or four months, it was tough. They had to work, so I didn’t see them for long stretches. But that’s just how it is."