Lars Unnerstall (born 20 July 1990) is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Dutch club FC Twente.

Lars Unnerstall
Unnerstall with Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2014
Personal information
Full name Lars Unnerstall[1]
Date of birth (1990-07-20) 20 July 1990 (age 33)[1]
Place of birth Ibbenbüren, West Germany[1]
Height 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Twente
Number 1
Youth career
1994–2002 SV Uffeln
2002–2005 Grün-Weiß Steinbeck
2005–2008 Preußen Münster
2008–2009 Schalke 04
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Schalke 04 II 54 (0)
2011–2014 Schalke 04 34 (0)
2014Aarau (loan) 16 (0)
2014–2017 Fortuna Düsseldorf 10 (0)
2017–2018 VVV-Venlo 32 (0)
2018–2021 PSV 15 (0)
2018–2019VVV-Venlo (loan) 33 (0)
2019–2021 Jong PSV 2 (0)
2021– Twente 110 (0)
International career
2010 Germany U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:19, 5 November 2023 (UTC)

Club career edit

Schalke 04 edit

 
Unnerstall with Schalke 04 in 2011

Born in Ibbenbüren, North Rhine-Westphalia, Unnerstall finished his development at FC Schalke 04 after joining at the age of 18.[2] In April 2010, after featuring regularly for the B team, he signed a professional contract until 2012.[3]

For the 2011–12 season, coach Ralf Rangnick announced Unnerstall as second-choice behind Ralf Fährmann.[4] His professional debut took place on 31 July 2011, in an 11–1 away win against FC Teningen in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.[5] In October, he agreed to an extension until June 2013.[6]

On 15 October 2011, after Fährmann's ejection early in the game, Unnerstall made his Bundesliga debut, in an eventual 1–2 home defeat to 1. FC Kaiserslautern.[7] After it was revealed the former had suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury[8] he became the starter,[9] remaining as such even after the signing of veteran Timo Hildebrand[10][11][12] and earning praise from manager Huub Stevens.[13]

Unnerstall agreed to a new deal until 2015 before the 2012–13 campaign started.[14] He continued to battle with Hildebrand for starting duties,[15][16][17] and was also first choice during the team's run in the UEFA Champions League;[18] he also committed several mistakes in home matches, which led to fan criticism.[19][20]

During the 2013 off-season, Unnerstall was linked a move away from the club.[21][22] Nothing came of it, however, and he remained as third-choice behind Fährmann and Hildebrand.[23]

On 24 January 2014, Unnerstall was loaned to Swiss Super League side FC Aarau.[24][25] His first match took place eight days later, in a 1–1 draw against FC St. Gallen;[26] he was later chosen Player of the Month for this display.[27][28]

Fortuna Düsseldorf edit

 
Unnerstall as a Fortuna Düsseldorf player (2014)

On 21 May 2014, Unnerstall joined Fortuna Düsseldorf as a replacement for Fabian Giefer,[29] for a reported fee of €250,000.[30] He spent most of his tenure as backup to Michael Rensing,[31] featuring rarely in the 2. Bundesliga[32][33][34] and adding two appearances in the 2015–16 edition of the domestic cup.[35][36]

Increasingly frustrated with his lack of playing time,[37][38][39] and occasionally demoted to the reserves,[40] Unnerstall was also afflicted with pneumonia in early 2017.[41]

VVV and PSV edit

Unnerstall signed a two-year deal with VVV-Venlo in June 2017, for an undisclosed fee.[42] On 18 May of the following year he agreed to a three-year contract at fellow Eredivisie team PSV Eindhoven, being immediately loaned to his previous club.[43]

After a series of poor performances from regular starter Jeroen Zoet in autumn 2019, Unnerstall became first choice for PSV.[44] He finished the season with 14 league appearances.

In the 2020–21 campaign, however, Mark van Bommel's successor Roger Schmidt preferred the newly recruited Yvon Mvogo, and Unnerstall was demoted to backup once again.[45] Due to a tight schedule in the autumn of 2020, he played the full match against Sparta Rotterdam on 29 November, a 1–0 win.[46]

Twente edit

On 2 March 2021, Unnerstall agreed to join FC Twente also of the Dutch top division as of 1 July.[47]

International career edit

In September 2010, Unnerstall was called by the German under-20 team, appearing against Switzerland[48] and Poland the following month.[49] On 31 August 2011 he was selected to the under-21s,[50] but did not appear in any games with the latter.

Career statistics edit

As of match played on 11 June 2023[51][52][53]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Schalke 04 2010–11 Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2011–12 Bundesliga 21 0 3 0 5[a] 0 29 0
2012–13 Bundesliga 13 0 0 0 5[b] 0 18 0
2013–14 Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 34 0 3 0 10 0 47 0
Aarau 2013–14 Swiss Super League 16 0 0 0 16 0
Fortuna Düsseldorf 2014–15 2. Bundesliga 10 0 0 0 10 0
2015–16 2. Bundesliga 0 0 2 0 2 0
2016–17 2. Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 10 0 2 0 12 0
VVV 2017–18 Eredivisie 32 0 0 0 32 0
2018–19 Eredivisie 33 0 1 0 34 0
Total 65 0 1 0 66 0
PSV 2019–20 Eredivisie 14 0 2 0 2[a] 0 18 0
2020–21 Eredivisie 1 0 3 0 0 0 4 0
Total 15 0 5 0 2 0 22 0
Twente 2021–22 Eredivisie 32 0 3 0 35 0
2022–23 Eredivisie 33 0 2 0 4[c] 0 4[d] 0 43 0
Total 65 0 5 0 4 0 4 0 78 0
Career total 205 0 16 0 16 0 4 0 241 0
  1. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  4. ^ Appearances in Eredivisie European competition play-offs

Honours edit

Schalke 04

Individual

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Lars Unnerstall". Eurosport. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  2. ^ Jansen, Matthias (23 June 2009). "Scherr kündigt neuen Trainer an" [Scherr announces new coach] (in German). Kicker. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  3. ^ Müller, Thiemo (29 April 2010). "Kuranyi klar mit Moskau, Jendrisek kommt" [Kuranyi off to Moscow, Jendrisek comes] (in German). Kicker. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  4. ^ Wenzel, Peter (24 June 2011). "Jetzt will Holtby auch Schalke rocken" [Holtby wants to rock Schalke too now]. Bild (in German). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Lars Unnerstall: Beim Profidebüt stört nur das Gegentor" [Lars Unnerstall: Only own goal spoiled pro debut] (in German). FC Schalke 04. 31 July 2011. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Torhüter Lars Unnerstall verlängert Vertrag bis zum 30. Juni 2013" [Goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall extends contract until 30 June 2013] (in German). FC Schalke 04. 4 October 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  7. ^ "Kouemaha besiegelt erste Stevens-Pleite" [Kouemaha seals first Stevens loss] (in German). Kicker. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Hildebrand: »Schalke fühlt sich super an!" [Hildebrand: »Schalke feels great!]. Bild (in German). 22 October 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Farfan beschenkt sich zum 100. Bundesligaspiel" [Farfan takes part in 100th league game] (in German). Kicker. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  10. ^ Müller, Thiemo (8 January 2012). "Unnerstalls Kampfansage" [Unnerstall's battle] (in German). Kicker. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Unnerstalls Verletzung ist Hildebrands Chance" [Unnerstall's injury is Hildebrand's chance] (in German). Kicker. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  12. ^ Wenzel, Peter; Niedderer, Heiko (9 May 2012). "Sechs Fäuste für ein Schalkeluja" [Six fists for a Schalkelujah]. Bild (in German). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Unnerstall macht Stevens froh – Hildebrand mag's harmonisch" [Unnerstall makes Stevens happy – Hildebrand likes harmony] (in German). Kicker. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  14. ^ "S04 bindet Torhüter Lars Unnerstall bis 2015" [S04 tie goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall until 2015] (in German). FC Schalke 04. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  15. ^ "Keeper Unnerstall muss abreisen" [Keeper Unnerstall must leave] (in German). Kicker. 15 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  16. ^ "Knie verdreht: Schalke bangt um Torhüter Timo Hildebrand" [Twisted knee: Schalke fear for goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand]. Bild (in German). 31 August 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  17. ^ Wenzel, Peter; Niedderer, Heiko (21 October 2012). "Jetzt hat Unnerstall den Hut auf" [Hat's off to Unnerstall now]. Bild (in German). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  18. ^ "Huntelaar kontert Abdoun postwendend" [Huntelaar replies Abdoun on the spot] (in German). Kicker. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  19. ^ "Wer steht gegen Gladbach im Schalke-Tor?" [Who stands in Schalke's goal against Gladbach?]. Bild (in German). 30 November 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  20. ^ Wenzel, Peter (1 December 2012). "Hildebrand in Schalkes Startelf" [Hildebrand in Schalke's starting XI]. Bild (in German). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  21. ^ "Unnerstall steht auf der Torwartliste bei Energie" [Unnerstall is on the goalkeeper list at Energie] (in German). Kicker. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  22. ^ Röser, Uwe (29 April 2013). "T-Frage: Unnerstall zögert" [T-question: Unnerstall hesitates] (in German). Kicker. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  23. ^ Gressmann, Nina; Wenzel, Peter; Oldenborg, Sebastian (12 August 2013). "Auf dem Sofa zu Schalkes Nummer 1" [From the couch to Schalke's number 1]. Bild (in German). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  24. ^ Leihkamm, Moritz (20 January 2014). "Die Schalke-Streichliste" [The Schalke sweeplist]. Bild (in German). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  25. ^ "Schalke verleiht Unnerstall nach Aarau" [Schalke loan Unnerstall to Aarau] (in German). Deutsche Fußball Liga. 24 January 2014. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  26. ^ "1:1 gegen St. Gallen auf Acker Brügglifeld – Unnerstall hält Aarau den Punkt fest" [1:1 against St. Gallen at Brügglifeld – Unnerstall gets point for Aarau]. Blick (in German). 1 February 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  27. ^ "Unnerstall ist Fussballer des Monats" [Unnerstall is Footballer of the Month]. Blick (in German). 8 March 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  28. ^ "Fussballer des Monats: FCA-Unnerstall sagt Danke!" [Footballer of the Month: FCA's Unnerstall says thanks!]. Blick (in German). 11 March 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  29. ^ "Fortuna bestätigt Verpflichtung von Lars Unnerstall" [Fortuna confirm commitment of Lars Unnerstall]. Rheinische Post (in German). 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  30. ^ Hochrainer, Sebastian (24 May 2014). ""Bei Aufstieg lass' ich meinen Bart rot-weiß färben!"" ["When we promote let me dye my beard red and white!"]. Bild (in German). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  31. ^ Rüter, Julian; Hochrainer, Sebastian (24 July 2014). "Unnerstall erfährt HIER, dass er nur 2. Wahl ist!" [Unnerstall finds out he's only second-choice HERE!]. Bild (in German). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  32. ^ "»Jetzt will ich auch gegen Ingolstadt in die Kiste!" [»Now I want to be between the posts against Ingolstadt too!]. Bild (in German). 27 October 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  33. ^ "Pohjanpalos Reise in die Vergangenheit – Rensing fehlt" [Pohjanpalos goes down memory lane – Rensing missing] (in German). Kicker. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  34. ^ Kitsch, Christian (4 May 2015). "0:3! Büskens blamiert Fortuna" [0:3! Büskens blames Fortuna]. Bild (in German). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  35. ^ "Düsseldorf zieht in Essen im Elfmeterschießen weiter" [Düsseldorf go through in Essen on penalties] (in German). Kicker. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  36. ^ Zschoche, Jörg (26 October 2015). "Fortunas Mr. Ungeschlagen" [Fortuna's Mr. Unbeaten]. Bild (in German). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  37. ^ Bitter, Oliver (23 May 2016). "Umstrukturierung: Fortuna peilt den Neustart an" [Restructuring: Fortuna reboot the reboot] (in German). Kicker. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  38. ^ "Dresden hat Unnerstall im Visier" [Dresden have Unnerstall in sight]. Bild (in German). 8 June 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  39. ^ Schwank, Kevin (11 October 2016). "Unnerstall will im Winter weg" [Unnerstall wants to leave in winter]. Bild (in German). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  40. ^ "Arianit Ferati auf dem Weg der Besserung" [Arianit Ferati down improvement's road] (in German). Fortuna Düsseldorf. 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 18 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  41. ^ "Zwei Wochen Pause für Fortuna-Keeper Unnerstall" [Two-week break for Fortuna keeper Unnerstall]. Bild (in German). 12 January 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  42. ^ Dobrick, Jan (19 May 2017). "Unnerstall-Wechsel nach Venlo ist fix" [Unnerstall's move to Venlo confirmed]. Rheinische Post (in German). Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  43. ^ "PSV sign goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall". PSV Eindhoven. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  44. ^ "Kurioser Torwart-Zoff um Van Bommel" [Strange goalkeeper quarrel for Van Bommel] (in German). Sport1. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  45. ^ Elfrink, Rik (25 August 2020). "Met Mvogo krijgt Schmidt bij PSV zijn meevoetballende keeper" [Schmidt gets his football goalkeeper at PSV with Mvogo]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  46. ^ "Schmidt haalt bezem door PSV-opstelling: 'Niet slecht om Mvogo pauze te gunnen'" [Schmidt sweeps through PSV lineup: 'Not bad to give Mvogo a break'] (in Dutch). Voetbal Primeur. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  47. ^ "Ex-Schalker Lars Unnerstall wechselt zu Twente Enschede" [Former Schalke man Lars Unnerstall moves to Twente Enschede]. Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 2 March 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  48. ^ "Wormuths Joker Bertram und Bellarabi stechen" [Wormuth's jokers Bertram and Bellarabi sting] (in German). Kicker. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  49. ^ "Cenk Tosun lässt Wormuth-Elf jubeln" [Cenk Tosun makes Wormuth's XI rejoice] (in German). Kicker. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  50. ^ "Auch Leitner und Sobiech fehlen Adrion" [Leitner and Sobiech are also missing Adrion] (in German). Kicker. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  51. ^ a b "L. Unnerstall". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  52. ^ "Lars Unnerstall". Worldfootball. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  53. ^ "Lars Unnerstall". Who Scored. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  54. ^ "Ajax provides most players to team of the month for the fourth time". eredivisie.eu. December 3, 2021.
  55. ^ "FC Twente main supplier in May's Eredivisie Team of the Month". Eredivisie. 2 June 2023. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.

External links edit