Nico Patschinski

Nico Patschinski (born 8 November 1976) is a German former professional footballer who played as a forward

Career

1980–1994: Youth and rise with Union Patschinski was born in Berlin. He began to play ice hockey in SC Dynamo Berlin's youth department. He was inspired by his father who himself had been a successful ice hockey player. Two years later, Patschinski switched sports and took up football, joining BFC Dynamo. In 1988, Patschinski was transferred to 1. FC Union Berlin.

1994–2000: Rambler Patschinski made his debut in the senior team in 1994 and established himself as a regular in the following season. But in 1997, Union were hit hard by financial troubles and Patschinski took up the offer of Potsdam-based SV Babelsberg 03.

Patschinski did not have a good time in Potsdam, even though he played regularly. The fans had an inherent distrust of Berlin-born players and were quick to criticize them.

Patschinski spent one year in Dresden, scoring 11 goals in 31 matches He then moved to SpVgg Greuther Fürth to finally play in a fully professional league. He gained some experience in the 2. Bundesliga with Fürth, but did neither score a goal nor become a regular starter. Therefore, he sought a move away from Fürth after only one season. Additionally, Berlin-born Patschinski did not feel at home in rural Fürth.

2003–2006: Relegation and the national team Following the relegation, Patschinski signed for SV Eintracht Trier 05 in the 2. Bundesliga. But relegation hit Patschinski's club again, and after two years he moved on to another 2. Bundesliga club, LR Ahlen. The club were relegated at the end of the season, and Patschinski had managed a rather curious feat: in five seasons his clubs had been relegated four times. Patschinski would describe his move to Ahlen as a mistake he "would never make again". Even though the PZPN president had signaled interest for matches after the World Cup, Patschinski did not hear anything from them again.

2006 bis 2009: Return to Berlin At the start of the 2006–07 season, Patschinski returned to the club of his youth, Union Berlin. His team had a mixed season, alternating between promotion hope and relegation fight. In the end, Union Berlin saved themselves from relegation and Patschinski scored a Goal of the Week against his former club FC St. Pauli. Patschinski admitted that he had meant to cross the ball. In the following season Patschinski and Union Berlin qualified for the newly created 3. Liga.

Citing a lack of trust, Union dissolved the player's contract on 4 March 2009.

Return to BFC On 28 July 2009, Patschinski joined BFC Dynamo.

Personal life Patschinski has three children. He and Mariana Kautz were married in December 2006. Their relationship ended in winter 2009.

By the end of his footballing career, Patschinski had lost most of the money he had earned. In July 2015, he began working as a funeral director in the Hamburg area. Having also worked as a parcel carrier and a dishwasher, he later became a bus driver.