Hradecky: ‘I want to remain sincere’

In interview, the 32-year-old goalkeeper talks about his passion for small talk, the value of authenticity, his role as captain and his hopes for silverware.

Lukas, the bus as an interview location has been chosen deliberately. We've heard you've always been fascinated by buses.

Hradecky: (He laughs) That's right. I was always painting buses as a small boy in Turku. I wasn't very good at drawing in arts lessons at school but I could always paint buses. I suppose I was going through a Cubist phase. (He laughs) The paintings are still stored somewhere as my mother never threw them away. Perhaps I should have a look at them in the summer.

Did you want to be a bus driver when you were small?

Hradecky: If you are eight or nine years old then you don't immediately think about being a bus driver even if you actually like it. When football came along I dreamed of strolling into the Camp Nou and playing for Barcelona. But when it actually happens you can see that it's not so easy. (He laughs) But, from my current perspective, I would still say that being a bus or taxi driver would be something for me. I don't have any problems talking to people and building social relationships. Quite the opposite: I like small talk, I'm interested in people. In that respect they would be really good jobs for me.

Where did you get your interest in being sociable, in communication? Is it down to the way you were brought up?

Hradecky: Everything probably plays a role. My parents moved from Bratislava to Turku back then to a country where they didn't know the language. I take my hat off to them for taking that leap into the unknown and overcoming it. They definitely shaped me the most. I was brought up to treat everybody equally regardless of whether it's a president, football player or bus driver. I try to deal with people so that the other person feels good and is happy building communication between each other even in conversations that only last two or three minutes.

But Finns are normally very reserved.

Hradecky: I'm definitely not a normal Finn given my roots but I obviously feel much more of a Finn than a Slovak. I'm a good mix, you could say a hybrid Finn.

And definitely authentic.

Hradecky: That's actually really important to me. To be honest, hypocrisy is the worst thing for me. If you do something to be different from what you really are than that annoys me massively. I want to be authentic, remain sincere. I don't know whether it's my strength or that's why I am captain of Bayer 04. I'm definitely not perfect but I am who I am. I don't put on an act, and don't try to continually reinvent myself. It's the only way of living I know.

That makes you stand out for many people including in football.

Hradecky: But that's not my intention at all. I'm more shocked by the direction the world is taking. Of course, the new generation has other interests, other things that are cool. I can say: I had a wonderful childhood, was outside a lot and played together with others a lot. Perhaps we’re different from the new generation who always have mobile phones and PlayStations. Perhaps they're a bit more isolated because of that. Earlier, being sent your room was a punishment and today it's difficult to get children away from their smartphones. We went our own way, and looked for other lads to play football with. I'm a bit bothered by the direction the world is heading in.

Lukas Hradecky as the guardian of old values?

Hradecky: At the end of the day, everything is a personal choice. I see that myself sometimes when I reach for the phone subconsciously and look at it but sometimes I leave it at that. But it's not about always banning everything. The basic condition is: Everybody should do what they want as long as they can perform. It's the same with the team: There are clear rules, for example mobile phones at meals. On matchdays I always have my phone on aeroplane mode and only turn that off when I'm in the coach after the game. I haven't got many more years of this dressing room life and I want to continue to feel the togetherness as a team.

You clearly enjoying being part of the team and now even leading the way as captain.

Hradecky: Being a professional football player is a privilege. And that’s certainly so with this job at a club like Bayer 04 being able to play in the Champions League. I had a really tough time on the pitch in my first year at Frankfurt with a relegation battle and play-offs. Today I'm grateful for the stressful times back then and the experiences that helped me to mature and the Champions League with Bayer 04 is a luxury compared with that.

Albeit in a sector where there is nevertheless high pressure in a game that is played on a big public stage.

Hradecky: Of course, but in the end it's only football. Other people have existential needs, deep-seated problems and I'm supposed to get het up about a misplaced pass or poor judgement? I take my profession very seriously and do get annoyed with the mistakes but then it's straight back at it. I'm really serious on the pitch but you shouldn't put yourself under too much pressure. That's why I stay solid and relaxed. You can't afford to let yourself be brought down by mistakes otherwise you get afraid of the next move and the probability of the next mistake increases.

Public criticism can be extreme.

Hradecky: Fortunately, I don't get to hear about that much as I hardly read German sports media and I don't look at the marks. They don't interest me anymore. It was different at the start of my career but then I came to realise that it's complete nonsense. It's easier to deal with the weaker phases if you don't make yourself dependent on those things. They always say negative comments, and even abuse, are part of the game but I don't believe that. Regardless of the situation: You can always treat yourself with more respect.

People are often rude to each other on social networks.

Hradecky: : In that respect, social media is actually more bad than good. That's why I hardly get involved with it. The effects of negative comments are twice as much a burden as the ones you get when you have a good game.

You've drawn the conclusion of withdrawing from that to an extent.

Hradecky: We all know there is a lot of pressure in professional football. But it's part of my approach to keep pressure away from myself. If you can do that as a top athlete in those situations then it can only do good. Pressure, or better: Tension obviously helps in situations to remain alert and be able to produce top performance. But if it's too much then it quickly goes downhill. You have to deliver on the pitch but always try not to lose being relaxed.

How much of that attitude can you convey to your own team as the captain?

Hradecky: After training we regularly go into the sauna together as a team. And everybody knows that I like to talk and everybody can ask questions. It's almost a therapeutic meeting for us. (He laughs) We have people who have been and are in different positions in their careers so you can have a good exchange of views. From my perspective, I have different stories to tell from the big talents playing for us. We have a really good mix at the moment. I'm just the captain and we are all important.

You just said you have a good mix in the team this year. What role does the coach Gerardo Seoane play?

Hradecky: I can only say good things about him. And not just because he made me captain. (He laughs) Every player needs a different individual approach. The coach recognises that and that's why the players respect and value him so much and they want to repay that with their performances. His strength is definitely versatility and I don't mean that primarily in a tactical sense. I don't really understand it that well: I'm there to save shots. (He laughs) But the inner being of the team, the chemistry within the side: Those are subjects that Gerardo talks about to me as captain but also with lots of others, particularly the older players. He also asks us how the teams feels, and takes our thoughts into his plans. In addition, because of his language skills, the coach can talk to most of the players in their own language. That's incredibly important. We can only help each other through transparency and communication.

The centre of your life has been far away from home for 13 years. There is no immediate prospect of your sporting career ending at the age of 32 but you do have certain priorities for when you do retire.

Hradecky: I think I will return to Finland although that's not decided yet. But I'd like to spend at least part of my life there as I've missed a lot in the past few years. I still remember how my mates used to send me pictures and news from cool summer festivals when I played in Denmark while I was working my socks off at a training camp. That was tough.

You will change that after you retire.

Hradecky: Of course, doing without things has paid off and I might be able to carry on as a 40-year-old. It won't be the only first. I look forward to experiencing everything: celebrating midsummer, seeing the Northern Lights. There are so many beautiful places to discover.

When you do end your career what will the fans in Leverkusen, Frankfurt, Copenhagen or Turku say?

Hradecky: He's a decent lad and he was also a good goalkeeper. It will do for me if I know that I have lived my values and my life. Then I can look into the mirror with a clear conscience and sleep well.

But you're not yet in the autumn of your career. Goalkeepers often play until they're 40.

Hradecky: It would be good if I could make it. (He laughs) Above all, I hope we can win something for this great club. That spurs me on. We've got the set-up for that. Now we have to develop that winning mentality as a team. The most important thing for that is the team spirit and that's a priority for me. Of course, you have your own career but only when we've done everything for the team, and invested in the team, can we can talk about a title.

How far are you in that process?

Hradecky: Further on than a year ago. It was no coincidence we made it into the Champions League. That's what happens in football. You don't have to talk about it as it's the result accounts in the end. My aim is clear: I want to see silverware in the trophy cabinet.

LUKAS 04 favourites

Author?

Hradecky: At the moment, I'm reading Lars Kepler, that's the pseudonym of the Swedish couple Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril. I've recently read four or five of their books. I like Nordic Noir as with Jo Nesbø Harry Hole crime thrillers.

Film?

Hradecky: The Shawshank Redemption with Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins is one of the front runners and I recently watched it again. The French film The Untouchables is definitely in the top three and is really moving. And there's also an Adam Sandler comedy called Just Go with It: It's a really funny film.

Karaoke song?

Hradecky: Sweet Caroline, without a doubt.

Series?

Hradecky: Money Heist was cool, above all because I watched the Spanish version with Finnish subtitles. Then I was able to surprise the South Americans in the team with words and expressions from their mother tongue. And Suits was also really good.