Tobias Nickenig

Career

In the 2005–06 season, Nickenig was called up for the first team of 1. FC Köln and he was eventually loaned out to Sportfreunde Siegen in the winter transfer window. After he returned to 1.FC Köln in summer 2007 he was starting for Köln in the first 10 games of the season 2007/08 until a long time injury stopped him ( 2 operations on his groin ) and he was out for almost 9 month. This season the club finished 1st place and got promoted to the 1st Bundesliga. He gave his debut in 1st Bundesligaon 17th of december 2008 before he left 1. FC Köln on 01 January 2009 and moved to Liechtenstein based club FC Vaduz of the Swiss Super Leaguecoached by Pierre Littbarski, former world cup winner 1990. After his contract ended on 1 July 2009 FC Vaduz he signed on 9 July 2009 a one-year contract with VfL Osnabrück. In Osnabrück he became one of the outstanding players and an important part of the team that made promotion to 2nd Bundesliga in 2010. Osnabrück supporters still celebrate him as one of the best defenders in club history. After his second year in Osnabrück and a couple of injuries he left the club in 2011 and signed with Turkish side Orduspor who was playing in Süperlig, the highest level in Türkey. There he just had 7 appearances in the first leg of the season and after not getting paid he terminated his contract in April 2012. In July 2012 he signed with German 2nd Bundesliga club FC Erzgebirge Aue where he again became one of the most important players in the following 2 seasons and helped the club to fight relegation and stay in 2nd Bundesliga. On April 17 2014 he played his last game as a professional footballer in the derby against Dynamo Dresden. He had to retire aged 29 due to knee problems after several operations.