First Team

Always on hand for the team

Sascha Weiß on his career as a physiotherapist, the cooperation in an interdisciplinary team – and why not all sport is the same.

Before the working day begins for the VfL Wolfsburg players, Sascha Weiß has already been up for a long time. Before breakfast, he often cycles or goes with his colleagues to the gym. “Stretching, mobility or strength, everyone can choose for themselves,” he says. The main thing is being together but also the connection to the job. “It’s important to keep up, stay fit but also to recognise and eliminate any problems that you may have noticed the day before." As a physiotherapist, internalising individual exercises is part of the job.

Over two decades’ experience

“Not all sport is the same,” says Weiß about the differing requirements in his profession. “It depends on which limbs are needed most. In football, there are several." These include – especially for goalkeepers – the shoulder and wrist, but of course also the biceps in the arm area and the lower limbs – consisting of the ankle, knee and hip. “We don't just look at the muscles but also at the organs, so that we see each player holistically,” adds Weiß, describing his work. This includes loosening up, mobilisation on the treatment table as well as examining the body's statics. He’s been doing this for over 20 years now, 12 of them at VfL.

With first team since 2016

The qualified physiotherapist and osteopath joined the first-team squad in 2016 under then head coach Dieter Hecking. “My esteemed colleague Michele Putaro was still head physiotherapist himself at the time, so we’ve swapped places.” As a rehabilitation coach, Putaro is still at the service of the team and maintains a good working relationship with Weiß. “I've been head physiotherapist since 2017 and am very happy with this position.”

Maximum alertness required

In addition to Weiß, Patrick Kasprowski, Dennis Wöhr and Alexander Jura are also part of the first team’s physio department. They were all present at the training camp in Almancil in order to prepare the team as well as possible for the remainder of the current season. However, there were no major differences in the approach to the work in Wolfsburg. After all, Weiß and his team are always on hand to maximise the Wolves’ potential. “There are no fixed times when the players can come to us. There is no lunch break for us, we are always available for the players and work non-stop.” Especially before the start of the match, it’s important to show presence in order to prevent possible injuries and take preventative action. “An absence means a step backwards for the player who sees an opportunity to step up or wants to be in contention,” he says, recognising the importance of even the smallest injury. “Everyone wants to show their best side.” And that doesn't just apply to the footballers.