Uwe Hunemeier to return to SC Padeborn
Uwe Hunemeier is to return to SC Padeborn this summer when his Brighton and Hove Albion contract expires having agreed a two year deal with the newly promoted Bundesliga 2 outfit.
The German had been linked with a move to Queens Park Rangers but will instead head home for regular first team football to the club that the Albion paid £1.5m to for his services in August 2015.
At that point in time, it looked like he had been bought in as a Lewis Dunk replacement with Dunk attempting to force through a move to Fulham. Dunk was dropped as a result with Hunemeier pitched in for his debut, ironically away at Craven Cottage, within 24 hours of signing, helping the Albion to a 2-1 win.
From there, he was undroppable for three months until a series of injuries which ruled him out for the best part of a year. Since then, the form of Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy has been such that he’s never been able to hold down a regular spot, although he has been excellent when called upon in the run in last season and when he has played in cup competitions.
It isn’t just his cultured style of play that made him a firm fan favourite. Off the pitch, he also comes across as bloody good bloke. A couple of months ago, he arranged for one Brighton fan to go and watch Padeborn, where he was royally looked after by all of Hunemeier’s friends during his stay in Germany.
Hunemeier’s enthusiasm for the Albion on social media shines through as if he were a genuine supporter, absolutely loving it when we win and apologising whenever things don’t go right, even when he isn’t playing. Not just retweeting every little bit of praise you get and arguing with your critics is a lesson many footballers could learn from Hunemeier – yes, we’re looking at you here David Stockdale and Kazenga LuaLua.
Perhaps best of all though is his attitude. There are many senior pros out there who would take playing for the under 23s as an insult but he has seemingly loved every minute of his time with the stiffs this season, especially in helping Simon Rusk’s side reach two finals.
We’d have loved to have seen him sign a new deal at the Amex but at 32, it’s understandable that he wants to play regular first team football as his career comes to a close. The WeAreBrighton.com never normally need an excuse to go on a pissed up football trip somewhere abroad, but if we did then the chance to jet off to Germany for a weekend of beer, sausage and Hunemeier would be it. That’s the sort of impression he has made at the Albion.
As for our favourite Hunemeier moment? Easy. That came when he split his head open early in his Albion career and tweeted to let everybody know they didn’t need to worry because “my bonce is now locked”. What a fantastic piece of translation from a fantastic bloke. Good luck Uwe.
