Patrick Mainka

Patrick Mainka (born 6 November 1994) is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains 2. Bundesliga club 1. FC Heidenheim.

Career Early career Born in Gütersloh, Mainka made his debut and only appearance for Arminia Bielefeld on 15 December 2013, coming on as a second half substitute for Marc Lorenz in a 4–1 victory at home to Greuther Fürth.

Werder Bremen II Mainka left Arminia Bielefeld in the summer of 2014, joining Werder Bremen II for an undisclosed fee. On 1 August 2014, Mainka made his debut for Werder Bremen II in a 3–3 draw at Eintracht Braunschweig II, before scoring the first goal of his senior career in the following match at home to Schwarz-Weiß Rehden. He made 9 appearances during the 2015–16 season for Werder Bremen II before leaving in January 2016. He made his debut for the club on 6 February 2016 in a 1–1 draw at home to Viktoria Köln, going on to make 18 appearances during the 2015–16 season, scoring once. He remained a regular player over the next two seasons for Borussia Dortmund II, scoring 2 goals in 34 games across the 2016–17 season and 6 goals in 34 games during the 2017–18 season, and he was also captain of Borussia Dortmund II.

1. FC Heidenheim In the summer of 2018, Mainka joined 1. FC Heidenheim on a two-year contract, following the expiration of his contract at Borussia Dortmund. Mainka made his debut for Heidenheim in their second game of the season; a 1–1 draw away at Holstein Kiel. He scored his first goal for Heidenheim on 4 May 2019; a right footed shot in the 60th minute of a 3–2 defeat at home to SV Sandhausen. Across the 2018–19 season, he started 32 of Heidenheim's 34 games, scoring 2 goals. He was part of the Heidenheim team that was promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in the club's history at the end of the 2022–23 season.

In December 2023, Mainka's contract with the club was extended until 2027. Mainka played every minute of Heidenheim's first two Bundesliga seasons, making him the third ever play to play every minute of two consecutive Bundesliga seasons after Christian Günter and Philipp Lahm.

In August 2025, he again extended his contract until summer 2029.

Career statistics

Honours 1. FC Heidenheim 2. Bundesliga: 2022–23

Individual The Athletic Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2023–24