Tim Kleindienst: Germany's best number nine?

One of the most alluring things about football is the number of routes that can be taken to the top of the game. While the current Germany squad contains the kind of sheer talent that always appeared destined for greatness in the likes of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, it has also seen another player take the road less travelled to the elite in Kleindienst.

Kleindienst may translate from German as 'small service', but there is certainly nothing diminutive about the 6'4'' centre-forward or his output. Fifteen goals and six assists in his first 25 appearances since joining Gladbach in the summer has marked a fine start to the latest chapter in a long career, with only Harry Kane and Omar Marmoush (who moved to Manchester City in January) boasting more goal involvements in the Bundesliga this season. 

The international stage is a logical next step for a player who has built his way up to the limelight by succeeding at every level beneath that, despite having to overcome setbacks along the way. And when he was given his chance by Julian Nagelsmann for the national team's games in October and November, he grabbed it with both hands, netting twice against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 7-0 victory - his first Germany goals. A third would follow soon after in Germany's come-from-behind 2-1 win over Italy in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final in Milan.

The third tier of German football is where it all began for Kleindienst as a 19-year-old scoring 13 goals for Energie Cottbus in his breakout season of 2014/15. While a move to Freiburg, then a Bundesliga 2 outfit followed, Kliendienst was unable to convince under Christian Streich despite gaining his first two seasons of Bundesliga experience following their promotion. 

A return to Heidenheim in 2019 - after a promising season on loan to the second-flight side in 2016/17 that brought seven goals - would prove to be the launchpad to the big time for a player then in his mid-20s.

His rise wasn't straightforward though, despite Kleindienst finding a happy home for his goalscoring talents. Some 14 goals in Bundesliga 2 in 2019/20 earned him a move to Gent in Belgium, but a solitary goal in 15 league appearances saw him return to Heidenheim in January 2021 with a point to prove - initially on another loan and then on permanent terms.

Kleindienst has since described the spell in Belgium as a "brutally negative experience" but has reflected that it proved to be a valuable lesson.

The unassuming and patient approach of Heidenheim worked wonders again for Kleindienst, as he promptly rattled 11 goals in 15 appearances in the second half of the 2021/22 season. Ten goals followed in the subsequent campaign before it was lift off for the striker and his club in 2022/23 as his 25 goals saw Heidenheim seal promotion to the top flight for the first time ever - with Kleindienst the division's top scorer and netting the decisive stoppage-time goal on the final day that sent them up.

Watch: Heidenheim seal promotion in Regensburg in May 2023

A sensational first season in the top flight in which Heidenheim defied expectations to finish eighth - with Kleindienst contributing 12 goals (reaching double figures for a fifth consecutive season) - demonstrated beyond doubt that he could cut it at the highest level. 

The six assists that have come with the 15 Bundesliga goals for Gladbach might make you believe that Kleindienst is a lot more than just a marksman, yet the striker himself is modest about his attributes, telling kicker: "I'm not the most technically accomplished, but if you need application and intensity, I can really help."

Watch: Tim Kleindienst jokes after scoring past best man Kevin Müller

Nagelsmann was quite clear about what his expectations for Kleindienst were in the run-up to Germany's Nations League encounter with Bosnia-Herzegovina, saying: "I hope Tim can do what he did in Heidenheim and what he does now for Gladbach. He has to concentrate on scoring goals. Sometimes he works a bit too hard. The bottom line is, we want to finish off our attacks."

Kleindienst clearly took the advice to heart. Deflecting a shot from Robert Andrich into the net was a fortunate way to open his Germany scoring account, but the way he raced to slide and pounce on an Antonio Rüdiger cross with his side already six up in the closing phase made his appetite for more goals in a Germany number nine jersey abundantly clear. 

Against Italy, Kleindienst picked up where he had left off - albeit off the bench as a half-time replacement for Mainz star Jonathan Burkardt - and hit his third Germany goal in style just minutes after coming on. With Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich winding up for a deep cross from the right half-space, Kleindienst sensed his opportunity and, perfectly bisecting Italy's defenders, rose highest to plant an unbeatable free header past Gianluigi Donnarumma. Focus, anticipation, strength and skill were all on display as Kleindienst levelled the score and paving the way for an eventual 2-1 win.

Watch: All of Kleindienst's goals so far in 2024/25

While his first call-up came following Niclas Füllkrug's injury, Kleindienst could now well be at the top of the striking pile. Burkardt is the only German to match the 29-year-old for goals in Europe's top five leagues this term, and although he has more years ahead of him than Kleindienst does, the latter has more experience and has been performing at an impressive level for longer.

Deniz Undav may well have something to say about it now that he has put his injury troubles behind him but, perhaps portentously, the VfB Stuttgart man was left on the bench in favour of Kleindienst in the Italy game. Elsewhere, Maximilian Beier has not yet settled at Borussia Dortmund since his summer move from Hoffenheim, and Kai Havertz's best position is unknown - Nagelsmann has played him at centre-forward, attacking midfield and even at left-back during his reign so far.

The Bosnia encounter in itself was proof that Kleindienst is operating at a fantastic level right now. The devastating way he spearheaded an attack featuring the swift and skillful three of Wirtz, Musiala and Havertz in that thrashing - and the way he almost immediately got Germany back into the match against a dangerous Italy side - make an irresistible case that Kleindienst has cemented his rise from the lower leagues to bona fide international goalgetter.