By Ben McFadyean.
Germany made good on their loss against Greece with a 0-0 in Athens last night and have some positives to take away from Jurgen Klopp’s first games as head coach of the DFB team until their next game against Serbia in November.
A new face in the coaching setup at the DFB is former Norwich City and Darmstadt defender Christoph Zimmermann, who is now the assistant manager of the Germany U16 team:
https://x.com/DFBNachwuchs/status/1995417718950924677
Zimbo, as the former defender, is known to friends and fans alike and took over the role from Shkodran Mustafi, who is now assistant manager of the Germany U21s. The former Norwich City Centre-back is assistant to former Karlsruher SC and Ulsan Hyundai manager Marc-Patrick Meister.
Zimmermann joined Borussia Dortmund II in 2014 from Borussia Mönchengladbach. He made his professional debut in the 3. Liga on 26 July 2014 against Rot-Weiß Erfurt and played 85 matches. He even captained the team in his final season with the club.
Zimmerman played for English club Norwich City when his contract expired at Borussia Dortmund II. He helped the Canaries lift the Championship title and seal a return to the Premier League less than two years later. Zimmerman and Norwich City were promoted again in 2021, under now Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
In 2022, Zimmerman transferred to Darmstadt 98, with which he won promotion to the Bundesliga in 22/23. Following ongoing challenges with injuries, the 1.93m defender retired from his active career at the end of the 24/25 season.
After retiring, the Dusseldorf-born football manager joined the coaching team of the U15S at the DFB as defensive coach in the team of head coach Andre Pawlak.
In this interview, he speaks about his new role, his time at Borussia Dortmund, what he loves about Norwich, top players he played against, Darmstadt 98, and Germany’s youth set-up. He also touches on his time with Darmstadt, quitting football, former colleague Cristos Tzolis at Arsenal, and the challenges the Canaries are currently experiencing in the Championship.
Firstly, how did you get the nickname ‘Zimbo’, where did it come from?
“That started with David Wagner, also during my time with Borussia Dortmund U23s. When I joined Dortmund in 2014, Wagner was the manager, and he just sort of came up with that nickname, which I have had since; I kind of like it.”
You grew up in Dusseldorf in Germany; was it a big change living in Norwich?
“One of the first things I was told when I arrived here was that people who once played for Norwich either stay here or always come back to visit. It was a very good time in Norwich. My family and I felt very settled. If it hadn’t been for the family in Germany, living permanently in Norwich would definitely have been something I would strongly have considered.”
You played for Borussia Dortmund’s second team when Daniel Farke was there in 16/17; it must have been some transition from gates of 300-400 in the Regionalliga to the Premier League and gates in the tens of thousands, and playing against players at the top of the game?
“Yes, it was, but I enjoyed the challenge; in terms of the players, it helped knowing some players from the ‘Gladbach and Dortmund days. I chatted with Jadon Sancho when he just joined Manchester United; the rapport with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was always the standout one, though.
“When he was at BVB, I was there, and there were quite a few training sessions I got to be part of with the first team, and I also played in some friendlies, so I knew the lads from then.
“The same thing with Jürgen Klopp as well: when I left Dortmund in 2015, I had just arrived from Gladbach, but I spent the training camp in the summer with the first team at Dortmund, and when we played Liverpool with Norwich, Klopp and I chatted after the game; in the position Jürgen was in, I was impressed he remembered me.”
You clearly had some great experiences with BVB, could you ever imagine coming back to BVB as a player or a coach?
“If I could choose, then Dortmund would always be a great club to play for. I have quite a special connection with the city and the place. I have lots of good memories from my time there.
“Like moving into my first flat, meeting my wife and playing with some great guys, many of whom I’m still in contact with now.
“Dortmund has a special place for me for sure, actually, ironically, more than Mönchengladbach, even though I just had three years there, as opposed to eight at the Borussia Park.”
Which players would you like to highlight from that time at BVB? I’m certainly thinking Felix Passlack; it must have been pretty cool when he came over to join you guys here in Norwich?
“Even though it was just one year, it was quite surreal seeing Felix on the Norwich training pitch. Yes, I really enjoyed that, and I am glad to see him playing for Hibernian too.
“You know Felix is a top player; he is always in a good mood, always very supportive, even though he didn’t play too much for us in that season. Felix didn’t get to play too many games. But despite that, he was always positive, a great team member to have around.
“In terms of former BVB II players, I also keep in touch with my former colleague Patrick Mainka, who is currently with 1. FC Heidenheim; it is amazing seeing his development.
“Apart from that, I am in touch with the former keeper Hendrik Bonmann; he is now with the Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad. He is a good lad; we speak regularly.”
And of course, Moritz Leitner was also a former BVB player and Norwich City player.
“He was one of my close friends from the Norwich team. In the afternoon, after training, we used to regularly catch up on the weekend’s NFL matches at his place or get some dinner in. Moritz is a good friend.”
You mentioned Max Aarons (AFC Bournemouth); he has been on the radar of a few Bundesliga clubs, including Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen at different times. Would he make it in the Bundesliga?
“He’s got all it takes to play in any of the top five leagues. I think just sometimes leaving your comfort zone and taking a step into the unknown, going abroad and playing there, can help in your development.
“Max can compete in the Bundesliga because he is good enough for the Premier League, and this is probably the best league in the world at the moment.”
When you first joined Norwich City in 2017, you said you were ‘honoured and delighted’; what made Carrow Road so special?
“Back then, the motivation to play in the Championship, playing in England, the motherland of football, when I was ten, twelve years old, me and my brother and also sometimes my father, we would watch Premier League highlights on German television, and I really enjoyed that, so when I was given the opportunity to play in England I did not hesitate.
“Obviously, I didn’t know too much about Norwich as a club though. Having spent four and a half years here, I now realise just how much work the club owners put into this club.
“The way Norwich are run is unique, and I think that’s something to be proud of. Also, when you realise how much this club means to the people of Norfolk, after all, we are the only professional club in the county; it’s a very special place to play.”
The East Anglia derby is the stuff of legend. Is it really the best you ever played?
“It is very special. You can feel the tension building up weeks before. My first derby at Portman Road, we won 1-0, and that was a great feeling.
“Timm Klose scored, and the noise from the Canaries fans was the loudest I have ever heard; that was really memorable.
“In the derby, the table doesn’t matter; it’s the biggest fight. You can sense how much it means to the fans and to the players. You can always sense it is a very special game.”
There are some pretty big guns in the Premier League, but they never like playing at Carrow Road; why is that?
“They have a long way to travel to play there. Carrow Road as a ground is also unique in so many ways. It is hard to beat Norwich at home. It cannot be a pleasure for other clubs.”
You fulfilled your dream to play in the Premier League and played at Manchester United, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur, which are the clubs that have made the biggest impression on you?
“There is something special about the sound of Old Trafford, or Anfield, isn’t there? I was lucky that I had games at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup, at the Emirates in the cup, Man City at the Etihad, the same with Manchester United, and also with Tottenham Hotspur.
“I really enjoyed playing at Old Trafford as it is a very big, very intimidating ground. When I was growing up, when I was probably 10, 12… Manchester United was in the Champions League against Barcelona, and they lost 3:1 but I remember even then wanting to play at Old Trafford. So then, a few years later, to play there was a very special experience.”
You had a legendary friendship with Teemu Pukki, who is now playing again in Finland with HJK Helsinki, and is the second-most ever capped player for Finland; what was he like to play alongside?
“Teemu is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. It’s funny; if you ask him to think in Finland, he is a national hero; people in Finland just love him, but he’s totally down to earth.”
The career of Emiliano Buendia, who you played with at Norwich, has really taken off; did you anticipate that?
“‘Emi’ is the best player I have played with. It was a lot of money to be transferred for £40m, and I don’t know what that kind of transfer feels like, but he is an outstanding performer, and he has proven doubters wrong with the titles he has achieved as a player.”
You played with Darmstadt for three seasons. What were the highlights of being back in Germany?
“The special thing at Darmstadt was not just playing under Torsten Lieberknecht and Florian Kohlfeldt, but also the kind of club it is; it’s a club which puts people first, there is a great sense of community, and I am proud to have played for Darmstadt, especially the promotion, of course. I will always be proud to have played for Darmstadt.”
You retired at the end of the 24/25 season; was it a tough decision to make?
“In the end, there was no choice. We tried several different things with medical options, but once the doctor told me that I was no longer able to play, it was hard. I reflected back over my career, and it was hard, but I got around to accepting this after a while.
“I would have liked to have played longer. I still look at games and think that could be me, but I have a new life now, and it’s time to move on.”
The career of Cristos Tzolis has really taken off with the move to Arsenal; did you see that coming?
“So yes, you could see the potential. You could see why we wanted to sign him at Norwich, but it would be way too easy for me to say now that you could always see he was going to play for one of the top teams in the Premier League one day.”
How did the opportunity come with the DFB?
“I knew some of the guys here at the DFB from my time playing in the U23s at Dortmund, and two from my time at Darmstadt. David Wagner, of course, was my U23 coach at BVB, and he worked with Jurgen at Leipzig; that helped.
“Whilst I was struggling with injuries, I reached out to them, and they gave me advice to get straight in there and start. If you stop for too long, you will be forgotten.
“The head coach of the U16’s was formerly the head coach of BVB U19S, and when his assistant, Skodran Mustafi, left, I was able to step in.”
What are the main challenges?
“The challenge is that there are big gaps between games, and so a lot can change for the young players. On the one hand, you have time to reflect, but it is also a big challenge in terms of the player’s development. Of course, the short periods, usually around 5 days, you then have together are very intense, and we have to work closely to get the best from the squad. “
What are your main objectives with the team?
“We are looking to develop the players towards the U17 European Championships next year in Latvia; the tournament and qualifying games are crucial, as the outcome will also decide our participation in the 2027 World Cup in Qatar, so there is a lot at stake.”
As a former defender yourself, how do you see the current situation at Norwich City, who are 17th place, having lost 5 games this season and conceded 17 goals already?
“I watch the highlights of most of their games. The boys are challenged this season, but what I’m hoping is that things click, not just in terms of performances but also results.
“I hope the head coach and his staff are given time to work on that. Because as long as you can see improvements, that’s a positive step in the right direction. Then it’s about continuing on that path and making further progress.”
Some questions for this interview were contributed by Connor Southwell.