Florian Hartherz

Florian Hartherz (born 29 May 1993) is a German professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Slovenian club FC Koper. He is a former Germany youth international, having played for Germany at under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels.

Hartherz started his senior career with VfL Wolfsburg II, before joining Werder Bremen in 2011. At Werder Bremen, he played both for the club's first team in the Bundesliga and for Werder Bremen II. In September 2013, Hartherz joined SC Paderborn of the 2. Bundesliga, and was promoted to the Bundesliga with the club in his debut season. The club were relegated back to the Bundesliga a year later however, and Hartherz joined Arminia Bielefeld in summer 2016. After four years with Arminia Bielefeld, the club were promoted to the Bundesliga in summer 2020, though he was released by the club that summer after his contract was not extended. He then played in the 2. Bundesliga for Fortuna Düsseldorf between 2020 and 2022, and has since played in Poland with Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała and Miedź Legnica, and in Slovenia with FC Koper.

Club career Early career Hartherz was born in Offenbach am Main. He played youth football for TV Hausen 1873, Kickers Offenbach, SpVgg Dietesheim, SG Rosenhöhe Offenbach, Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg, and won the Under 19 Bundesliga with Wolfsburg in the 2010–11 season. He also made two appearances in the Regionalliga Nord for VfL Wolfsburg II.

Werder Bremen On 31 August 2011, Hartherz joined Werder Bremen and signed a professional contract with the club. He made 10 appearances for the club's reserve side prior to the winter break. and retained his place in Bremen's starting eleven for following matches, making 10 consecutive Bundesliga starts before suffering an injury. He made his debut for the club on 13 September, starting in a 1–0 home win over Karlsruher SC, and made 11 2. Bundesliga appearances in total,

On 22 November 2014, he was given his first start, and second appearance, of the 2014–15 season, in a 2–2 draw at home to Borussia Dortmund. Hartherz's performances for Paderborn across the 2014–15 season were "inconsistent", as he played 10 times in total in the Bundesliga, With Hartherz's contract set to expire, he signed a new two-year contract with the club in June 2015.

He played 25 times in the 2. Bundesliga across the 2015–16 season, scoring once,

Arminia Bielefeld In summer 2016, he joined 2. Bundesliga club Arminia Bielefeld on a two-year contract. He played 25 times in the league in his debut season at the club, Across the 2017–18 season, he scored three goals in 33 2. Bundesliga appearances. which was nominated for the ARD Sportschau Goal of the Month for January 2018. In February 2018, his contract with Bielefeld was extended until summer 2020.

He scored once in 26 2. Bundesliga games across the 2018–19 season, though lost his regular place in the team to Anderson Lucoqui in the second half of the season. He started 31 of Arminia Bielefeld's 34 games in their 2019–20 2. Bundesliga title-winning campaign, though his contract expired in summer 2020 and was not extended by Bielefeld, who had instead signed Danish left back Jacob Barrett Laursen.

Fortuna Düsseldorf In August 2020, Hatherz signed for Fortuna Düsseldorf on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract. He was initially a regular starter for the club but soon lost his starting place at left back to loanee Leonardo Koutris, partially due to an achilles injury, and made just 12 appearances (and seven starts) in the 2. Bundesliga in the 2020–21. He made 20 2. Bundesliga appearances in the 2021–22 season, and scored his only goal for the club in a 1–1 draw away at former club SC Paderborn, but played just 24 minutes across the last six matches of the season,

Later career In June 2022, Hartherz signed for Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Netanya on a one-year contract with the option for a further year, but he played just eleven times in all competitions for the club before being told he was not in their first-team plans in November 2022. He transferred to Polish I liga club Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała on February 2023 on a contract until the end of the season, and scored once in 15 matches for the club, He played 45 times for the club in the I liga, scoring three goals,

International career He represented Germany internationally at under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels between 2009 and 2013, amassing a combined 27 appearances for Germany youth international teams.

Style of play Hartherz is a left-footed left back. He has also played as a left midfielder.

Career statistics