Robin Koch has the game to make his return to the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt a triumphant one. - © Imago

bundesliga

Robin Koch: Who is the Leeds United and Germany defender on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt?

08.07.2023

Robin Koch is back in the Bundesliga, after joining Eintracht Frankfurt on a season-long loan from Leeds United. bundesliga.com profiles the eight-time Germany international defender...

Stats correct as of 6 July 2023

Robin Koch

Age: 26 (born 17 July 1996)
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt (on loan from Leeds United)
Position: Centre-back/defensive midfielder
Country: Germany (eight caps)

Koch has been on the books of Leeds for three seasons. He's made 73 English Premier League appearances, having initially made the switch on the back of an eye-catching campaign in the Bundesliga with Freiburg. 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.

Koch took his game to new heights at Freiburg. - Alexander Scheuber/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection

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.

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.

Koch started his first game for Germany against Argentina in October 2019. - imago images

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