Bench‑warmer record scorer Andrej Kramaric loses starting‑XI status
The 35-year-old Andrej Kramaric, until recently the record scorer of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, is now on the bench. In the six league matches so far he has only played 68 minutes and is completely absent from the starting eleven – a radical role change and he now has to come to terms with his new role.
Previous Season: Record Scorer in Top Form
In the previous season Kramaric was the undisputed regular with 15 goals and eight assists in 36 appearances. He started 28 times, scored 158 goals in 366 matches for the Kraichgau side and was still in peak form at 35.
Current Crisis and Competition
Since the start of the season Kramaric has logged only 68 minutes in six league games and has never been called into the starting lineup by coach Christian Ilzer. Ilzer said a few months ago: “He will never be happy sitting on the bench.” His status as a regular is therefore at risk. The competition in attack is fierce.
National team coach Slaven Bilic, who returned after 14 years with a 2-1 away win in the Czech Republic, also had Kramaric spend 90 minutes on the bench in Prague. Bilic wondered whether he had formed the same impression as his colleague Ilzer.
Ilzer emphasized in December that Kramaric is a “top professional” who “works tirelessly on his skills in detail.” In the 300th Bundesliga match against HSV he praised the Croat as an “extreme winner type” and an “important part of this team.”
Despite the limited playing time, Hoffenheim extended Kramaric’s contract in early May until 2028 to secure the experienced fan favourite for the long term.
In the summer, winger Bazoumana Toure left the club for around €50 million to Newcastle United, while midfield veteran Grischa Prömel moved on a free transfer to VfB Stuttgart. At the same time Hoffenheim invested €66 million in six new signings.
In attack Kramaric competes with returnee and new international Bambase Conte as well as Adam Daghim from Salzburg. On the wings, Adam Hlozek, Tim Lemperle and Max Moerstedt are ahead, while Fisnik Asllani is once again considered a substitute option.
Hoffenheim scored seven goals in the first four league matches, but still sits in the fifth‑last position in the table. After the international break, seven league games are scheduled over the next three weeks, which could give Kramaric the chance to be used more frequently again.
Bilic now has to decide how to use Kramaric in the three remaining Nations League matches against Spain (twice) and England. The Croat has 119 caps, ranking him behind Luka Modrić (203) and Ivan Perišić (159) in the national team.