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A new family member, a special gift and Boxing Day in front of TV
schalke04.de spoke to Derry John Murkin, Tobias Mohr, Lino Tempelmann and Tomas Kalas about their plans for Christmas.
Derry John Murkin
Christmas Eve is always a special one in the Murkin household. “The family all comes together. We make pancakes, have a laugh and often watch a Christmas film,” said the Englishman. Alarm clocks go off nice and early on Christmas Day for the Murkins, with “everyone excited to see what presents are waiting for them under the tree.”
Murkin will most likely be sat in front of the TV on 26th December. “We all love Boxing Day in England and like to watch lots of football. I will be cheering for Liverpool,” said the 24-year-old. The defender immediately had a smile on his face when asked about his favourite ever Christmas present: “A puppy,” he revealed. “His name is Bo. My father surprised our whole family a few years ago just before the festive period. It was amazing.”
Tobias Mohr
“Christmas this year will be extra special for us due to the new member of our family. It’s going to be really nice,” said Mohr. The 28-year-old became a father for the first time in November and will spend the festive period at home with his wife Louisa and young boy Mats. However, Schalke’s number 29 won’t be able to put his feet up: “We’ve invited our whole family. My parents and parents-in-law are coming, as well as my aunts and uncles, and my grandmother too. It will be a big party and I’m really looking forward to it. There will be 14 of us in total,” he revealed.
“Our meal will include roast beef with croquettes and dark sauce, as well as my grandmother’s red cabbage, which is legendary,” he praised. Mohr and his wife have had to buy a smaller Christmas tree compared to previous years: “We have a cot in the living room now.”
Lino Tempelmann
Schalke’s number 10 will be celebrating Christmas with his extended family this year, with the family of his sister’s boyfriend also in town. “It’s nice when everyone can come together and spend time with one another. In day-to-day life it’s unfortunately really difficult to catch up with people due to being so far apart,” said Tempelmann, who was born and grew up in Munich. He will also meet up with some friends over the festive period.
As a kid, the midfielder’s favourite presents were football shirts, though he can also remember receiving an iPod one year. “People didn’t actually have music on their phones back then,” he reflected. “We’ve decided that we’re not giving each other any presents this year, but I’m intrigued to see if everybody sticks to that!”
Tomas Kalas
“I haven’t been able to spend time with my family back home in recent years because I was in England,” said Tomas Kalas. Football on the 26th December, aka Boxing Day, is a traditional part of the English calendar and one of the most popular matchdays throughout the year for the fans over in the UK.
The Czech defender was still able to enjoy Christmas in recent years though. He used to spend Christmas Eve with his girlfriend and then December 25th with her family, with them all enjoying a real feast. “Turkey, roast beef, pigs in blankets, various potato-based dishes – there was something for everyone,” he added. After dinner, Kalas and Co. watched a Christmas film together or played a game, before he was back on the pitch the next day.
