Football Daily Florian Wirtz - The Football Interview
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Jan 31, 2026 
Florian Wirtz, a creative midfielder who rose rapidly at Leverkusen before joining Liverpool. He recalls first football memories and early signs he was different. He describes his Leverkusen breakthrough and why Liverpool appealed. He talks about adapting to the Premier League, finding confidence, off-pitch routines, and his World Cup dream.
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Humble Beginnings At A Family Club
- Florian Wirtz started playing at his local club Grün-Weiß Brauweiler coached by his father who did everything for the club.
- He was shy as a child and only moved to bigger clubs after trying both Köln and Leverkusen on his parents' advice.
Early Academy Choices And Breakthrough
- Wirtz joined big academies early, training with both Köln and Leverkusen from around age six or seven.
- He later broke records and celebrated being part of Leverkusen's first-ever unbeaten championship team.
Choosing Growth Over Comfort
- Wirtz chose Liverpool because he saw it as the place to become a bigger player with strong meetings and player endorsements.
- Messages from Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah helped give him confidence to sign despite uncertainty.