The nickname Wizard or Magician is not unique in the world of sports and football. It was worn by many. Perhaps the most famous is Jorge Gonzalez, the only man Maradona said was better than him.The nickname Magico accompanied Mesut Ozil in one part of his career. It was given to him by the Real Madrid dressing room when he wore the Royal Club jersey in the period from 2010 to 2013. His teammates adored him because he preferred to assist rather than score goals. And indeed, there was footballing magic in Ozil’s passes…The Turk born in Germany recently ended his career in which he recorded 114 goals and as many as 222 assists.”Even now that I have finished my career, I don’t dare to call myself that. But I thank to those who think so. I prefer that others talk about me”, says Ozil in a big interview for the Spanish Marca on the occasion of the end of his career.##NAJAVA_MECA_7125739##Marca’s journalist insisted on talking about the nickname from Real Madrid…”Okay, okay… My style of play was like that. To always try to add something that others don’t expect. Maybe that’s why I got the nickname. And that means the fans had fun watching me. Surprises are beautiful. Both in football and in life. I’m really glad if people look at me like that”.Goals or assists? What gave you more pleasure?”I also made a lot of crucial pre-assist passes that are not counted anywhere. For me, the build up is equally important and I always tried to be present in that part of the game. The best thing, though, is the team’s victories. I always tried to make my players shine as much as possible and my style of play was based on that. I was happy to see others happy. I expected others to behave like that because selfishness never brought anything good”.What is the first thing that comes to mind when you reflect on your career?”Childhood. They told me that I would never become a professional footballer, but I didn’t care and I had my focus. When I played the first matches of my career for Schalke, I felt like I had landed on the moon. Everything that came later – Real Madrid, winning the World Cup – was just a wonderful bonus. Of course, the highlight of my career was winning the World Cup in 2014″.Mesut Ozil has retired aged 34. He won nine club trophies including four FA Cups with Arsenal and a LaLiga title with Real in 2012.Also a 2014 World Cup winner with Germany.🏆🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/Q87R9u7ajr— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) March 22, 2023 You retired at 34. Why so early?”When I looked at everything, I am sure that this is the right decision. During my career I had no problems with injuries and I was always in good shape, but the last few months have been very difficult because of the back injury. I could no longer help the team as much as I would have liked, I told that to the people in Basaksehir and we quickly agreed”.What are you most proud of during your career?”These are neither goals, assists, victories, nor trophies… I am most proud of the fact that I could use my name to help solve some problems that are much bigger than football. To give something to those who are less privileged in Africa and South America. That’s what my mother taught me when I was a child.”After Schalke, Werder and the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, you moved to Real Madrid. Do you remember how that came about?”I had a choice – Real Madrid and Barcelona. It wasn’t a question of money. I visited both Madrid and Barcelona and Jose Mourinho made the difference. He gave me a gala welcome to Madrid, showed me the stadium and all the trophies the club won. I felt butterflies in my stomach. The visit to Barcelona was less attractive and the biggest disappointment was that Pep Guardiola was not even interested in getting to know each other. Before that trip to Barcelona, I really loved that club and their style of play. I could imagine myself there, but Real wanted me more. Jose Mourinho was without a doubt the most important factor that made me make such a decision. After talking with them, I was 100 percent sure: I want to be a Madridista!”.##NAJAVA_MECA_7125709##Werder didn’t want to let you go then. Were you afraid that the whole deal could collapse?”I remember that the negotiations between the clubs were difficult. But, in the end, Werder still didn’t want me to leave for nothing a year later. I told Werder’s director Klaus Allofs that they have to let me go to Real because you never know if an opportunity like that will come again in your life. That day when I signed for Real was something unique. I have never seen so many journalists, photographers, cameramen whose only focus was me. I was very nervous. But in the end it turned out to be very special. There is no club in the world like Real Madrid when it comes to player promotions. Then you realize that you have reached a special level”.The fans immediately fell in love with you…”Amazing fans. Even years after leaving Madrid, I receive messages of support from Real fans. We spent good years together and they saw that I always did my best. Honestly, I did not expect their support to last so long”.In Real Madrid you were coached by Jose Mourinho for almost the entire period, except for the two games played under Ancelotti. What memories do you have of Mourinho?”Everyone already knows about my anecdote with him in the dressing room. We still have a great relationship. He always knew how to motivate me and make me a better player every day. He is an amazing coach and I am proud to have worked with him”.Mesut Özil retires from professional Football.Only player in History to be Top Assist provider.🏅Premier League 🏅Bundesliga 🏅La Liga🏅Champions League 🏅Europa League 🏅Euro Cup 🏅World cup Thanks for the Memories 🤍#MesutOzil #Ozil #RealMadrid #Arsenal #Germany pic.twitter.com/vFRTcAjjAO— Sports Radio Brila FM (@Brilafm889) March 22, 2023 You also had a good collaboration with Cristiano Ronaldo.”It was really fun to play with Cristiano. For me he is the best player of all time. We understood each other very well on the field. I always watched where he was on the field, and he scored goals. He is a player who almost never failed an assist”.You also became great friends with Sergio Ramos…”The best defender I played with in my career. And a great character. He was still young then, but with a strong mentality. It was clear that sooner or later he would lead Real to the title of European champion. He is the real boss of the team. We were good friends, had a great time and spent a lot of time together off the field. He was the key to my quick adaptation in Real because he helped me a lot”.What memories do you have of derbies against Barcelona?”I think I played in the best period of El Clasico. The rivalry between Real and Barca was at its peak then. We played in the semi-finals of the Champions League… The teams of that time had everything! Mourinho vs Guardiola. Ronaldo vs. Messi… Current derbies have lost that intensity and emotion. Beating Barcelona back then was like having an orgasm. They were incredibly strong matches. I can also say that that 0-5 defeat against them in the league is still one of my nightmares. I played many games, many derbies, but never anything like El Clasico back then”.##NAJAVA_MECA_7126001##You won all the domestic trophies then, but never the Champions League. Does it ‘hurt’?”It was always one of my dreams, but that’s the way it is… You can’t win everything. And I wouldn’t trade it for the World Cup with the national team. Of all the defeats in the Champions League with Real, the one against Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals hurts me the most. Maybe because I’m a Schalke-boy. We lost control in the first match and they punished us cruelly. In the second leg, we were terrific, we needed a goal, the atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic… That Real team deserved to win the Champions League”.Then came the departure from Real. How did that make you feel?”Bad. I was very sad. I remember leaving the airport…man… I enjoyed those three years in the club and the city. I was really happy. But that’s life. Suddenly at the beginning of the season I was no longer getting minutes and there was a conflict between Florentino Perez and my father. We had to look for a new club. When the plane took off from the runway of the Madrid airport, I started to cry. I realized it was over. I’m sorry it ended that way.”What are your memories of Arsenal?”The first years were good. We played in the Champions League, we had a good team, great players and an amazing coach, Arsene Wenger. When he left the club, a lot changed for me. But I don’t want to add fuel to that fire. I am relaxed now and wish Arsenal fans all the best. I would like them to win the Premier League this season”.In the meantime, you became the world champion with Germany…”There were many great victories in my career, but the one in the final in Rio de Janeiro is special. The best night of my life. Even now when I talk about it, it makes me smile and I feel something in my stomach”.If you loved watching football, you loved watching Mesut Ozil – but you’ll see him play no moreWhat happened in the end with your departure from the national team?”I don’t want to start that story again. In the end, the FA of Germany and I had different views on some things. A few weeks before leaving the national team, I had a meeting with Joachim Low in Stuttgart and everything was fine. There were never any problems between the two of us.”If you could only choose one teammate, who would it be?”I would choose Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player. I would choose Ramos as a leader. And as the best striker… My brother Benzema”.And the coach?”Jose Mourinho. His tactical understanding is one thing, but his behavior in the dressing room… He was always the one protecting the team. World class coach”.The toughest rival?”Messi. I think everyone understands why…”.Thank you for everything, Mesut Özil ❤️ pic.twitter.com/RbpqaqIk7H— William (fan account) (@OzilThings) March 22, 2023 What would you change today for the progress of football?”I come from the streets of Gelsenkirchen where amateur football was played. So I would like football to be played without offside like when we were kids. That was more interesting and attractive”.Which club do you like the most?”Schalke and Fenerbahce. I supported them as a child and it is a great honor for me to play for them”.What are you going to do now after your playing career?”Honestly, I have no idea. I know I will be with my family in Turkey. My two daughters are the greatest joy in my life and I want to watch them grow. At the moment I have no plans for what I will do, whether I will become a coach or stay in football. Those who know me know that I don’t like cameras, interviews and public attention very much.”
