‘My father used to like playing Skat in the Schwadbud’

Axel, you’re away to the team in sixth spot on Sunday. In view of this situation, your Fortuna team will have to show a battling mentality. Nobody at Düsseldorf has embodied that like you did during your playing career. How do you apply that to your day-to-day work with the team?
To start with, I have to say the lads today can play football much better than I did when I played. (he laughs) But, of course, I have to try to apply my strengths as a player to my current role of assistant coach; for example, when it’s about rousing emotions. As coaches, we can take the lads under our arms a bit but they do go their own way. Just like the way I did back in the day. And it wouldn’t be good if all the players ended up turning into eleven Bellinghausens. (he laughs)

Your coaching post was more of a coincidence rather than a plan: In the autumn of 2017, Bayern Munich brought Düsseldorf’s then assistant coach Peter Hermann to Säbener Straße at the instigation of Jupp Heynckes. And then you suddenly came into the picture…
And that was a complete surprise. I’d played a number of games for the U23s at the time and Friedhelm Funkel said the reserves would benefit from a leader in day-to-day training. So I went to the meeting with the expectation that I would up there as a coach. But it didn’t turn out like that: “What come’s next might surprise you,” Friedhelm said. And yes, that’s what happened...

Suddenly, you were the second assistant coach for the Fortuna senior team alongside Thomas Kleine. What was that like for you as a player at the time?
I was just very nonplussed at the time. But that feeling very quickly changed into great joy, above all due to the confidence shown in me. When my role was clarified it only then became clear to me what it all meant to me.

It meant an immediate end to your playing career…
Exactly. But that was something I could easily live with. It was one of my biggest dreams to come true: even being able to decide when to end my playing career.

But it got serious for you from that point.
When I was playing, I put off things like planning the future for as long as possible. I knew there were coaches. But I didn’t know how to get there. Then the chance to train as a coach suddenly changed. It was exciting having to learn again. Going to school was a few years before that. Then I said to myself: Just get stuck in.

Is being a coach one of your targets for your future career?
I will start the UEFA A licence course next this year. I’m not thinking about being a coach. But I wasn’t aiming to be an assistant coach three years ago. (he laughs) I’ve still got a lot to learn. I believe dealing with things step-by-step is the right way to go.

Nevertheless, you have been able to gain experience and now you’re going into your sixth half-season as assistant coach. How do you feel about your job today?
I’m a long way from seeing my work as ‘everyday’ or ‘normal’. And I’ve only just got started. I’m very grateful for the honest feedback from both sides: from the coaches and the lads. That’s enormously important and helps me to develop as a coach.

How does the trio of Funkel/Kleine/Bellinghausen work out?
That’s quick to explain: Friedhelm leads the way, he put the coaching staff together. It’s a great vote of confidence that I can be part of it. Plus, they are my two points of reference. To be honest: I pinch from him every day – using my ears and eyes.

You were already involved in football before Fortuna. You were at Bayer 04 Leverkusen up to the age of 15. What contact do you have with Bayer 04?
A while ago, the Bayer 04 Veterans played where I live against SC Unterbach (first round of the German Over 40s Cup in December 2018, ed.). The ground is five minutes away and I didn’t want to miss it. It was great to meet up again with old friends like Dirk Dreher. His younger brother Axel used to coach me. I have a lot of memories from my time at Bayer 04. Maria and Bernd Dreher managed the Schwadbud and my father used to like playing Skat in the Schwadbud…

When you were 20 and had moved up to the senior squad at Fortuna, Bayer 04 reached the final of the Champions League. How did you see that successful time for the Werkself as a Rhinelander?
As a rule, I always cross my fingers for German teams when they’re in Europe. It’s completely irrelevant of whether or not I have a connection to the particular club. It’s the same today. That’s why I was obviously very disappointed about the result.

Finally, let’s take a look at Sunday’s game: What sort of game are you expecting as a coach?
I don’t think I’m sticking my neck out when I say that the roles are clearly delineated. It will be a game where a lot will have to go our way. We have to push ourselves to the limit and go beyond that if possible. We’re up against an incredibly skillful group as they showed again in Paderborn. We have to do everything we can to stand up to them.