Mio Backhaus becomes key figure at SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg's new goalkeeper Mio Backhaus has already established himself as an important figure – not just on the pitch, but also as an interpreter for the Japanese players. The 22-year-old goalkeeper joined Freiburg from Werder Bremen on May 23 and is expected to start the new season as the first-choice keeper. His skills as an interpreter are particularly valuable after the summer arrivals of Rihito Yamamoto and Keisuke Goto, who joined compatriot Yuito Suzuki, who has been at Freiburg since last year.
How did Backhaus become an interpreter?
During a media event at Freiburg's Austrian training camp, an AI application was supposed to provide translations for the Japanese players. However, when Yuito Suzuki reacted skeptically to the first question, Backhaus stepped in. The son of a German father and a Japanese mother, Backhaus speaks fluent Japanese and took over the role of interpreter. "I didn't know that the other two were still coming," Backhaus told Kicker. "But I'm always happy when I can help."
Why is Backhaus' role so important?
Backhaus is not only responsible for communication between the Japanese players and the team, but also for their integration. Goto and Yamamoto are already working on their English, but Backhaus provides them with an immediate point of contact. This is not the first time Backhaus has helped a Japanese teammate. At Werder Bremen, he supported Yukinari Sugawara upon his arrival in Germany.
What does this mean for Backhaus' career?
Backhaus established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper at Werder Bremen last season, playing 32 of 34 Bundesliga games. At SC Freiburg, he now has the opportunity to establish himself as number one at a second Bundesliga club. His skills as an interpreter could also accelerate his own integration into the team.
