Interview

"Everyone is looking forward to it"

In an interview with HSV.DE, Ransford Königsdörffer spoke about the reasons for his positive development in 2024, the secrets behind his success in front of goal and why he's looking forward to the season getting back underway soon.

hsv.de: Ransi, we're just a few days into 2025. How do you feel about New Year's resolutions?

Ransford Königsdörffer: I don't set any resolutions or goals for myself, so the start of the New Year isn't anything unusual for me. I'm just hoping that 2025 will be a good year and will do my best to make sure that happens.

You're born and raised in Berlin. What did you do on New Year's Eve? Were you back home or did you escape the New Year's Eve chaos in Berlin?

I was on holiday in Qatar and celebrated New Year's Eve together with Davie [Selkie]. We went out to dinner together with our partners and enjoyed a relaxing evening together. It was a lot quieter than in previous years, when I'd celebrate with my friends back home and maybe let off a couple of fireworks myself (grins).

If we look back on the 2024 calendar year, what were you able to experience that you hope to take with you into the New Year?

It was a busy year. It got off to a great start with the AFCON. I wasn't expecting to be able to take part in it, and so it was great to be able to have that experience. Things also started to look up for me at the club after Steffen Baumgart was brought in. I was able to continue this positive development during the first half of the season, although I was then sidelined for the last game of the year with an injury. But overall, it was a good year with plenty of positives.

Are there any moments that you look back and reflect on?

Yes, it's something I often talk about to my mental coach. We discuss how things went, what could be improved and what I should be proud of. Our discussions range from topics like God and what's happening in the world, but there's also a focus on any problems I might be dealing with. There's no set pattern to what we talk about, as it varies depending on the situation.

You scored nine goals across 30 games in Bundesliga 2 in 2024. You stood out in particular during the first half of this season, netting seven times in this period. You're just one goal away from equalling your personal best from your debut season with HSV in 2022/23. What's the reason behind your success in front of goal?

I did a lot of reflecting over the summer and was self-critical as well. The year prior wasn't a very good one for me, on a personal and sporting level. I wanted to improve on those things that didn't go well and also learn how to better deal with setbacks. I took the summer to recover and work hard. Amongst other things, I made changes to my diet and made it a priority. That really made a big difference. Overall, I just put in a lot of hard work. Luck also plays a small part in it, but I also put in the work to make it happen.

Who helped you during this process?

Mainly my mental coach, but my girlfriend, parents and agent also all helped too, so anyone close to me. For example, my girlfriend helped me to implement the changes to my diet and really pays attention to all the key details. I also consulted with a nutritionist, who provided us with a lot of support at the start and we're still in touch with them. The advice she gave included things like eating more plant-based proteins instead of meat, consuming lots of carbs on high-intensity training days and making sure to eat meals that are easy to digest on the day before a game.

If we take a closer look at your goals, there are two things that stand out. Firstly, your goals have made it 1-0 on five occasions, with each of these goals coming inside the first 11 minutes of matches. Can you think of any reason for this?

I think that I always make sure to prepare myself well for the game, so that I'm ready to go right from the start and don't need much time to settle into the match. Personally, I want to head into each game with a certain degree of calm and ease. I don't really want to feel tense, because I find it easier when I don't put too much pressure on myself and just think 'Let's go, today is your day!'

Another fun fact about your goals: three of your seven goals this season have been headers. You'd only ever scored two headers before in professional football. Is this development just a coincidence or are you suddenly 'Air Königsdörffer'?

In Davie and Bobby, we have to extremely talented headers of the ball in our ranks, so I've been able to learn a couple things from them. In the end, it's also down to positioning. I'm not playing on the wings anymore, but rather up front, so I'm just able to attempt more headers, which also plays a role.

As a kid you played several different sports – tennis, swimming, taekwondo, track & field. Has the athleticism you developed early on helped you at all?

I'm lucky that being fast is something that comes naturally to me, but my history with track & field certainly still helps to benefit me to this day. Swimming has also helped me in terms of building my strength.

You missed the last game of the year against Fürth due to a knee issue and have so far been training individually in 2025. How are you feeling?

I've been dealing with some minor knee issues recently, but being able to train with the team yesterday was a good sign of progress. I hope that I'll be able to return in time for the first game against Köln and that we can leave the pitch victorious. I have confidence in my body, although I can't promise anything. My goal is to be back by then.

The positive atmosphere within the team has been clear to see lately, as has the effort on the training pitch. How have you experienced it?

We were excited to see each other again. Everyone had done something different during the winter break, so we had a lot to catch up on. As a team, we get along very well with each other, which you can see out on the pitch as well. The coaches focus a lot on game-like drills and mini competitions, which helps to keep the mood high. Our coaches are all very approachable and we've been working with some of them for a while now, so we have a good rapport with each other.

The second half of the season will get underway nine days from now against 1. FC Köln. Does that bring up memories of your brace on the opening matchday of the season and how much are you looking forward to his game?

Of course it's something that I think about – it was a great way to start the season for our team and for myself personally. I'd love to see a repeat of that, but in the end, the only thing that matters is that we win the game. It's in the primetime slot too, which is always great. Both we and fans are really looking forward to the game and to be back at the Volksparkstadion. Everyone is looking forward to it and we're all aware of the importance of this match.