Gerrit Holtmann: Who is Bochum's Bayern-beater with a knack for special goals?

bundesliga.com takes a closer look at the German/Filipino winger…

Gerrit Holtmann

Age: 26

Club: Bochum

Position: Winger

Country: Germany (five U20 caps)/Philippines

Key stats

Born in Bremerhaven in March 1995, Holtmann played youth football at various local clubs before joining the academy of regional giants Werder Bremen as a 15-year-old. He would return to JFV Bremerhaven in 2013 for a year before being picked up by Eintracht Braunschweig.

The left footer spent the 2014/15 campaign with the reserves in the Regionalliga Nord, making his debut on 27 July in a 2-2 draw away at Lüneburger Hansa before getting his maiden goal in the 3-0 win against Freie Turnerschaft Braunschweig on 27 August. He got his first call-up and start for the senior squad on 27 April 2015, even providing an assist in a 4-2 win at home to Erzgebirge Aue in Bundesliga 2. He ended the season with 10 goals and four assists in 27 Regionalliga games.

He was promoted fully to the first team for the 2015/16 Bundesliga 2 campaign, featuring 30 times and having a direct hand in nine goals. That included a match-winning performance of scoring once and setting up another two in a 3-2 victory against future employers Bochum on the penultimate day of the season as Braunschweig ultimately finished eighth, but a good 19 points off promoted RB Leipzig in second.

Despite being contracted with Eintracht until 2019, Mainz swooped for Holtmann in 2016. He made his debut and set up the winning goal in the final minute against former club Werder on 21 September, but struggled to make a real breakthrough and only featured five times in his maiden Bundesliga campaign.

It wasn't until midway through the 2017/18 season that he finally earned his place in the team. And he got his first Bundesliga goal on 2 December in a 3-1 loss to Augsburg. Two goals in 17 games looked to have established him at Mainz, but injuries meant his 2018/19 campaign was basically a write off with only four appearances possible.

He was loaned out to Bundesliga newcomers Paderborn for 2019/20, featuring 24 times but only managing one goal as Steffen Baumgart's side went straight back down. The 6'0'' winger would return to Mainz for pre-season before being signed by Bochum in August 2020. He finally enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at the Ruhrstadion, playing in 33 of a possible 37 fixtures across all competitions, directly contributing 10 goals as Thomas Reis's side finished top and secured a return to the Bundesliga after an 11-year absence.

Both he and Bochum announced their top-flight comeback in style, winning their first home game 2-0 against Mainz. The result was kickstarted by Holtmann with an amazing solo run and finish from the halfway line that would be voted the Bundesliga's Goal of the Year for 2021.

Plays a bit like: Andres Iniesta

Displaying excellent close control, especially under pressure, a turn of pace that can suddenly disarm defences and having a keen eye for a tasty assist, Holtmann boasts many of the attributes of the Barcelona and Spain legend. Like Iniesta, the Bochum man also has the vision to produce a spectacular goal out of nothing.

Did you know?

Although yet to make his senior international debut, Holtmann has declared himself eligible to play for the Philippines, his mother Rosemarie's country of birth. "My mom is happy about every goal (I score)," Holtmann explained. "She [is] overjoyed with me when we look at the pictures together. She is a very, very emotional woman."

What they're saying

"Great goals, also from Gerrit with his weaker foot because he normally only uses his right to stand on." Bochum coach Thomas Reis on Holtmann's stunning goal against Bayern.

"It was just so much fun playing for Bochum today. It was just a feeling you can't describe. Before the game, it was said that the invincibles were coming and that we would hardly have any chances. We proved the complete opposite. I'm particularly proud of the team that we beat Bayern. When you see what kind of goals we score in training, it's just nice that it works out that way in the game, too." Holtmann was in his element after scoring and assisting in his team's famous Matchday 22 triumph against Bayern.

"My mobile phone was blowing up; I got so many messages via Instagram and Whatsapp; there was only good vibes everywhere." Holtmann again, this time speaking after scoring his Goal of the Year winner last season.