New Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz: The alternative Bundesliga soundtrack to your life
How many goalkeepers have you heard of who have not just won but also scored a goal in the Bundesliga? Go on, be honest. Hans-Jörg Butt? Jens Lehmann? What about Marwin Hitz?
Marwin who? Marwin Hitz! You know, the Augsburg legend? Borussia Dortmund's newest addition? Still not ringing any bells? A rundown of the Bundesliga's top five Hitz should do the trick...
*Translation: Welcome, Marwin Hitz! Borussia Dortmund sign the 30-year-old goalkeeper from Augsburg. He has signed a contract through to 2021.
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5) We Are The Champions
Long before he was swimming in a sea of WWK Arena tears at the end of his final home game in an Augsburg shirt on 5 May 2018, Hitz was earning his keep up north in Wolfsburg. The St. Gallen youth academy product got his mitts on the Bundesliga title in his debut season on German soil, but try as he might he could not depose Swiss compatriot Diego Benaglio in the Wolfsburg goal. After turning out 19 times in all competitions for the Wolves between 2008-2013, Hitz started over at Augsburg.
2) Holding Out For A Hero
*Translation: With a wink, I like to pay my debts. In addition, I will make a donation to the children's hospital."
Where there's a pantomime villain, there's usually a hero. Hitz just happens to have mastered both roles. Rewind to February 2015: this time Augsburg are trailing Bayer Leverkusen 2-1, when they win a corner deep into second-half added time. Hitz comes up, hangs about, awaits his chance and then hooks the ball past opposite number Bernd Leno to rescue his side a dramatic point. Only the third goal in Bundesliga history to be scored by a goalkeeper from open play after efforts from Lehmann (Schalke) and Frank Rost (Hamburg), it was even nominated for German TV broadcast ARD-Sportschau's Goal of the Year.
Watch: Hitz's last-minute equaliser in all its glory
1) I'm Still Standing
One goal Hitz won't want reminding of is the one he inadvertently scored in a 3-0 defeat to Mainz in April 2014 – that's if he remembers it. After pushing away Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's deflected effort, the Augsburg keeper sprang to his feet in an attempt to prevent Shinji Okazaki tucking away the loose ball. Although Okazaki didn't find the net, the ball did, Matthias Ostrzolek's attempted clearance going in via Hitz's two front teeth. Fortunately, his reputation – like his fangs – hasn't suffered any lasting damage.
