Fuchs switches Mainz for Schalke
Monday, June 6, 2011
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Austria left-back Christian Fuchs has turned down the chance of a permanent move to 1. FSV Mainz 05 and has instead signed for German Cup winners FC Schalke 04.
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Austrian international left-back Christian Fuchs has left 1. FSV Mainz 05 to join fellow German UEFA Europa League hopefuls FC Schalke 04 on a four-year contract.
The 25-year-old played 31 Bundesliga games for Mainz last season while on loan from VfL Bochum 1848, helping Die Nullfünfer finish fifth in the table. However, after initially agreeing terms with Mainz, he has elected to move to Gelsenkirchen instead.
"The thought of Schalke gives me goose bumps," said the former SV Mattersburg defender. "The club have almost 100,000 members, won the 1997 UEFA Cup and just reached the Champions League semi-finals. The fans are fantastic, the stadium is impressive – Schalke are huge. I believe my way of playing suits Schalke. I am a physical footballer who does not mind doing the dirty work on the pitch and works until the last minute."
Mainz will start their 2011/12 UEFA Europa League campaign in the third qualifying round while German Cup winners Schalke kick off in the play-offs.
