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Timo Becker: We never looked for an excuse
As the 2025/26 season finally drew to a close on Sunday (17/5), Timo Becker and the rest of the Royal Blues managed to add another win to their record to bring the points total up to 70 for the campaign. With the confetti now starting to be swept up, Schalke’s vice-captain took the time to sit down with us at schalke04.de and take a look back over a historic year. The 29-year-old revealed some secrets to S04’s success, came up with a personal summary for the season, and confessed which opponent he’s particularly looking forward to playing against in 2026/27.
Timo, the 2025/26 season is now behind us – and it’s ended in our promotion to the Bundesliga! After that final whistle against Eintracht Braunschweig, you got to hold the Meisterschale in your own hands at last, and two weeks after actually securing your return to the top flight, you could finally celebrate properly. What was going through your head during the trophy ceremony on the pitch?
It’s so hard to put that moment into words. For me, as a Schalke lad from day one, it was just this indescribable feeling, getting to lift the trophy in front of all the supporters after the final game. Everyone who knows me is aware of just how much this club means to me, ever since I was a child, so I’m just delighted and proud at the same time. FC Schalke 04 is back where it belongs, in the Bundesliga.
Before last summer had even rolled around, you’d already decided to leave Holstein Kiel and return to the club that’s so close to your heart. You did that out of a desire to help the Knappen see some success after a very difficult period. How would you personally sum this season up?
70 points is a strong tally to finish on. Alongside securing promotion and winning the title, I’m absolutely thrilled that we’ve been able to bring the fans so much joy. They were right behind us the whole time, from the first second of each game to the last, whether at home or on the road. Together, the team, the club and our fans have achieved something truly special this year.
You made 26 appearances for S04 this season as the club successfully battled for promotion. You were forced to sit out eight games, though, after suffering an MCL injury.
That was a tough time, to be honest. We also had several other players miss long stretches of the campaign through injury. Despite all that, though, we managed to get through it all as a team throughout the whole year, and we never started looking for an excuse. Any time someone got ruled out, someone else stepped right into their shoes.
You’ve made 60 Bundesliga appearances to date, and there will be more to come next season. Are there any games that you’re particularly looking forward to now that you’re back in the top flight?
There are a number of really exciting fixtures we can get excited about. Personally, I’m most looking forward to the derbies, particularly the away game there. I have actually played a derby for Schalke before, but that was back in the pandemic and so there were no supporters in the stands.
