Early Life And Career

Per Mertesacker: Former German Footballer and Current Coach

Early Life and Career

Per Mertesacker was born on September 29, 1984, in Hannover, Germany. He began his football career with local club Hannover 96, making his Bundesliga debut in 2003. After four seasons with Hannover, he moved to Werder Bremen in 2006, where he quickly established himself as a key player.

Arsenal FC and International Career

In 2011, Mertesacker joined Arsenal FC, where he spent seven seasons and won several major honors, including the FA Cup three times. He also represented the German national team at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 2012 UEFA European Championship.

Retirement and Coaching

Mertesacker retired from playing in 2018 and immediately transitioned into coaching. He became the academy manager at Arsenal and was later appointed as the head coach of the club's under-23 team. In 2022, he returned to Germany to take up the role of manager at Hertha Berlin.