Biography
Who is Andreas Hinkel?
Early professional career
Andreas Hinkel began his professional football path with the Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart in 2000. He quickly established himself as a first-choice player for the team. During the 2002 to 2003 season, the club finished in second place in the league, which allowed Hinkel to compete in the Champions League for the first time. However, his progress faced a hurdle in March 2004 when he suffered a knee ligament injury.
After his time in Germany, he moved to the Spanish club Sevilla in June 2006. He signed a four-year contract with the team, and during his tenure, he secured victories in the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. Despite these successes, he struggled to secure a regular spot as the starting right-back, often finding himself behind Daniel Alves in the team hierarchy.
Time in Scotland and retirement
In January 2008, Hinkel joined the Scottish club Celtic for a transfer fee of 1.9 million pounds. His debut came shortly after, in a Scottish Cup victory over Stirling Albion. He scored his first goal for the club against Hearts at Celtic Park. During his time in Scotland, he celebrated winning the Scottish Premier League title and the Scottish League Cup. He played a significant role during the 2009 Champions League qualification matches, especially helping his team defeat Dinamo Moscow.
The 2010 to 2011 season proved difficult for Hinkel. He lost his starting position to Cha Du-Ri early in the season and then sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out of action for nine months. Following the expiration of his contract in July 2011, he eventually joined SC Freiburg in October 2011. He played for the team until September 2012, when he announced his immediate retirement from professional football.
International and coaching career
Andreas Hinkel earned 21 caps for the German national team between 2003 and 2009. He made his debut against Serbia and Montenegro. While he was part of the squad for Euro 2004, he did not participate in the 2006 World Cup. His opportunities for the national team decreased later in his career, partly due to the rise of Philipp Lahm as the preferred right-back and limited playing time at his club.
Following his retirement as a player, Hinkel transitioned into coaching. He held various roles within the VfB Stuttgart youth system and reserve team. In October 2019, he joined the Russian club FC Spartak Moscow as an assistant to manager Domenico Tedesco. He took charge of the team on several occasions when Tedesco faced suspensions. He eventually left the Russian club at the conclusion of his contract.
Physical attributes
Standing at 183 centimeters tall, Andreas Hinkel used his physical presence on the pitch as a defender. Throughout his playing days, he was recognized for his defensive reliability and his ability to contribute to attacking plays while operating on the flanks.
Birthday and age
Andreas Hinkel was born on March 26, 1982, which makes Andreas 44 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Andreas shares the date with 60 other famous people.
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