Sascha Bigalke Explained

Sascha Bigalke
Fullname:Sascha Bigalke
Birth Date:8 January 1990
Birth Place:West Berlin, Germany
Height:1.67 m
Position:Attacking midfielder
Youthyears1:–1999
Youthclubs1:Reinickendorfer Füchse
Youthyears2:1999–2007
Youthclubs2:Hertha BSC
Years1:2007–2011
Clubs1:Hertha BSC II
Caps1:51
Goals1:7
Years2:2008–2011
Clubs2:Hertha BSC
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2011–2012
Caps3:42
Goals3:8
Years4:2012–2014
Clubs4:1. FC Köln
Caps4:17
Goals4:2
Years5:2012–2014
Caps5:3
Goals5:0
Years6:2014–2021
Caps6:150
Goals6:34
Totalcaps:264
Totalgoals:51
Nationalyears1:2005–2006
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2006–2007
Nationalcaps2:26
Nationalgoals2:11
Nationalyears3:2007–2008
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2008–2009
Nationalcaps4:6
Nationalgoals4:5
Nationalyears5:2009–2010
Nationalcaps5:3
Nationalgoals5:1

Sascha Bigalke (born 8 January 1990) is a German former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

Career

Bigalke started his professional career with Hertha BSC, making his first appearance on 31 July 2008 in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup first qualifying round second leg against FC Nistru Otaci. In January 2011, he was set to transfer to Arminia Bielefeld, but the deal fell through when Bigalke broke his foot shortly before the completion of the transfer. Having made only a single league appearance for Hertha, he moved on a free transfer to SpVgg Unterhaching in July 2011.

At Unterhaching Bigalke became a key player, scoring nine goals and providing twelve assists in 45 matches (league and cup). After playing in a 1-2 first round DFB-Pokal loss against 1. FC Köln he drew the opponent's attention and signed for them in August 2012, on transfer deadline day. The transfer fee allegedly amounted to €400,000 and helped chronically cash-strapped Unterhaching obtain a playing license.[1]

In his first season for 1. FC Köln, Bigalke played a decent role with 16 appearances with eight of them in the starting eleven. During the 2013–14 pre-season he tore his cruciate ligament running into the opponent's goalkeeper in a friendly against local side SF Troisdorf.[2] Subsequently, he missed almost the whole season, only being substituted once at second to last matchday in a home fixture against FC St. Pauli in which Bigalke scored.

On 22 July 2014, 1. FC Köln announced that Bigalke, along with four more players, would not be a part of the first team any more. Instead he was urged to leave the club and had to participate in training with the second team.[3] Consequently, his contract was dissolved by mutual agreement[4] and was able to return to Unterhaching on a free transfer. He signed for them on a one-year deal including an extension clause for another year.[5]

Bigalke retired from football in March 2021 due to injuries.[6]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hertha BSC II2007–08NOFV-Oberliga Nord7373[7]
2008–09Regionalliga Nord182182
2009–10Regionalliga Nord232232
2010–11Regionalliga Nord3030
Total517517
Hertha BSC2008–09Bundesliga00001[8] 010
2009–10Bundesliga10002030
Total10003040
SpVgg Unterhaching2011–123. Liga35621377
2012–133. Liga721082
Total42831459
Köln2012–132. Bundesliga16120181
2013–142.Bundesliga110011
Total17220192
Köln II2012–13Regionalliga West1010
2013–14Regionalliga West2020
Total3030
SpVgg Unterhaching2014–153. Liga800080
Total800080
SpVgg Unterhaching2015–16Regionalliga Bayern12600126
2016–17Regionalliga Bayern3419102[9] 13720
2017–183. Liga36410374
2018–193. Liga33200332
2019–203. Liga252001[10] 0262
Total14033203114534
Career total26250716127552

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bigalke zu Köln . German . abendzeitung-muenchen.de . 24 July 2014. 31 August 2012.
  2. Web site: Kölner Bigalke erleidet in Testspiel Kreuzbandriss . German . ruhrnachrichten.de . 24 July 2014. 22 June 2013.
  3. Web site: Ein Quintett steht im Abseits . German . rundschau-online.de . 24 July 2014. 22 July 2014.
  4. Web site: Sascha Bigalke verlässt den FC . Sascha Bigalke leaves FC . German . fc-koeln.de . 28 August 2014. 18 August 2014.
  5. Web site: FC-Abgang: Sascha Bigalke wechselt nach Unterhaching . FC-Leaving: Sascha Bigalke transfers to Unterhaching . German . express.de . 28 August 2014. 25 August 2014.
  6. News: Bigalke beendet Karriere: Ich wollte nicht auf der Trage vom Platz gebracht werden . kicker . 9 March 2021 . de-DE.
  7. Web site: Sascha Bigalke » Club matches. World Football. 22 February 2018.
  8. Appearances in the UEFA Cup.
  9. Appearances in promotion playoff.
  10. Appearance in the Bavarian Cup.