published10. August 2022, 04:31
Joel MallThat’s why the best goalie in Cyprus is still without a new club
After four years of roller coaster rides on the holiday island, goalie Joël Mall is looking for a new challenge. Compared to 20 minutes, the 31-year-old explained why it doesn’t have to be on the pitch at all costs.
What’s next for the Aargauer: with goalie gloves or without?
Credit: LinkedIn/Joël Mall
Mall with his two kids in Olympiacos Nicosia dress.
Credit: Joel Mall
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Former Aarau and GC goalie Joël Mall has had intense years.
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In the last four stations in Cyprus, the Aargauer has experienced many ups and downs.
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The 31-year-old has now returned to Switzerland and is looking for a new club.
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Mall met 20 minutes for an interview.
It’s hot when 20 minutes hits him in Aarau. Still, Joël Mall seems to be keeping a cool head. This is despite the fact that the championship is already up and running once more in most leagues – and the 31-year-old goalie has still not found a new club. “After engagements in Cyprus, it is difficult to return to Central Europe,” says Mall. Nevertheless, he and his girlfriend Isabel and their two children decided to take down the tents on the holiday island this summer, following four years and four different clubs.
It is still unclear where the former Aarau, GC and Darmstadt goalkeeper will go. “I’d be up for real football country,” says Mall. But he would also consider Australia or America with his family. He almost got a job as number 2 at a major Swiss club. But this would not have worked at the last moment. So he currently has to keep fit at the parent club Aarau – and umpteen unattractive opportunities in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.
Light and shadow by the sea
“The three pillars must ultimately be right,” explains the Brugger native. A commitment should make sense from a sporting, financial and local point of view. Mall has known what it’s like if that’s not the case since Cyprus at the latest. On his return trip with him: experiences for several careers – and a lot of knowledge regarding what he no longer wants.
«Cyprus is a great country. The landscape is beautiful, the enthusiasm for sports is there and the level of football is good,” he summarizes. But: “There are also many negative sides that we have to take with us as big lessons followingwards”.
Via 2. Bundesliga in die Europa League
After his engagement with the German club Darmstadt 98 (2nd Bundesliga), his path led to Cyprus in 2018. At the relatively small Pafos FC, he immediately wins the favor of top club Apollon Limassol. Mall immediately becomes a support, becomes part of the captain team and confirms the trust with strong performances.
After trips to the Europa League, including once morest Eindhoven, a severe setback soon followed: Mall broke his nose, eye socket and orbital bone following a violent collision. “Two days later the new goalie was there,” Mall remembers, “I had to leave in the next transfer window.” Current contract or not.
“I mightn’t sleep for two nights”
Fortunately, the recovery of his face went very well. The club AEK Larnaca will be his next employer. The family of four now wants to stay in Cyprus. “We had found a house, a nice environment and a great kindergarten and didn’t exactly want to give that up,” he explains. After all, life in a holiday paradise would also have its advantages.
After half a year, Larnaka was over and «Mall the Wall» was accommodated at Olympiakos Nicosia last summer. This is also a smaller club – Mall commits itself for one year. “When I signed, I mightn’t sleep for two nights, which cost me an incredible amount of energy,” he said in July via his Linkedin-Profile.
Non-payment of wages
Why? “Life in Cyprus and the money made me make this decision,” he explains. But Mall fights through and is even voted the best goalie of the season by the league. Nevertheless, he does not want to extend this summer. “When I didn’t want to sign, they stopped paying me the last month’s wages,” says Mall. The case is now with Fifa.
Nevertheless, the Aargauer does not rule out a possible return to Cyprus. “Never say never,” he says, “if certain things change and turn in favor of me and my family, I might definitely imagine playing in Cyprus once more.” Either way: physically he is ready; five to six years would definitely lie in there.
“Not a professional footballer at any price”
Looking back, he has experienced a lot and is very happy regarding his career as a goalkeeper: “All experiences in sport, including the negative ones, can help you in your career followingwards.” It doesn’t have to go on on the football field at any price: “I’ve always looked forward to the time following my active career.”
So that he is optimally prepared for this, Mall has already graduated as a marketing specialist and is now studying sports management and sports marketing. Or in his own words: “If someone says there is no time to do anything for themselves apart from football, then they are lying.”
And a return to FC Aarau? Mall: “It’s always interesting, but it would have been too forced this summer.” That’s how it stays, at least for the time being, with casual coffee rounds in Aarau’s old town. Even at high temperatures.
Joël Mall’s previous positions
2008 – 2015 FC Aarau
2015 – 2017 Grasshopper Club Zurich
2017 – 2018 Darmstadt 98
2018 – 2019 Pafos FC
2019 – 2021 Apollon Limassol
2021 – 2021 AEK Larnaca
2021 – 2022 Olympiakos Nicosia