You played with VfL Wolfsburg II in your final two seasons in the third tier. In England, second teams like the under-23s or under-21s compete in a separate, closed league. Do you think it’s beneficial for second teams to play in a professional third tier?
Ziehl: “I believe it’s beneficial. It creates real competition for young players. When you only compete against other under-23s or under-21s, you don’t experience the same level of pressure. Competing in the third or fourth tier means facing 30-year-olds, seasoned players, which is much better for young players and takes place in front of larger crowds. It’s the ideal scenario. Not every player is ready to move straight from the U19s to the Bundesliga.”
McFadyean: As a club manager, you oversee various aspects of the club. Is it significantly more expensive for a club to maintain a team in the fourth or third tier?
Ziehl: “The jump from the fourth tier, the Regionalliga, to the third tier, the Dritte Liga, involves substantial increases in costs for security, travel, players, and salaries, but it’s worthwhile due to the media revenue, as the games are broadcast on Magenta Sports TV in Germany. In the third division, you have big clubs like 1860 Munich and Dynamo Dresden, but the longer travel distances also add considerable costs.”
