Nicolas Höfler

Nicolas Höfler is a German midfielder born on 9 March 1990 in Überlingen. He started at Herdwanger SV and SC Pfullendorf before entering the SC Freiburg academy in 2005. As part of Freiburg’s 2008 under-19 side coached by Christian Streich, he won the German championship and DFB-Pokal. After three years with the reserves, he joined Erzgebirge Aue on loan in 2011, making his professional debut as a substitute in August. Höfler returned to Freiburg in summer 2013 and scored a late equaliser against Bayern Munich in a 1–1 draw. Primarily a defensive midfielder, he has also covered central midfield and centre-back, using positioning and anticipation to protect the defence and start attacks. His passing helps move possession from the back line to more advanced players, while his long Freiburg service has made him a notable figure at the club.