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First Year : Training
At the age of 17, Neven signs his first contract with FSV Mainz 05 of the famed Bundesliga. The difficult task of leaving his parents and sister in the US, while trying to make it on his own, was at hand for him in June of 2006. It helped that he was warmly welcomed by the FSV Mainz 05 staff, who made him feel like family. Neven was also able to see his childhood friends again, whom he left seven years earlier when he moved to the United States. Unlike in the US where Football gets scant attention, Neven is really surprised to see that most of the very friendly Mainz citizens are also great Football supporters. Just another positive in his effort to adjust and feel at home.

During this first year, Neven trained with Mainz First Team and played matches with the Second Team. His overall play quickly improved thanks to daily competition with real professionals. He was attentive and absorbed all of the coaches’ instructions during the training sessions and was impatient to play with the First Team. Meanwhile, the First Team was at the bottom of the Bundesliga standings and was in danger of relegation.

On May 19th, 2007, with Neven just an 18-year-old rookie, he plays his first Bundesliga match against none other than the perennial powerhouse Bayern Munich. Despite the team’s 5-2 defeat in his first game against a Bundesliga team, the moment will remain as a great memory for him. At the end of the season, FSV Mainz 05 finishes in the 16th position and drop down to Bundesliga 2. Two players left the club and head coach Jürgen Klopp begins the Bundesliga 2 campaign with the same group of player.

Second year : Neven best player in his position
Neven is now a full-fledged citizen of Mainz and feels even more at home both in the city and at his club. During his spare time, he likes to hang out in town with his friends.

Member of the First Team, he is the third centre back before the start of the season. Coach Jürgen Klopp notices that he begins to assert himself during the training sessions. Neven is impatient to play in Mainz Stadium, known to have some of the best fans. When the FSV Mainz second centre back got injured, Neven got the opportunity to replace him in the starting lineup for the friendly games. During that time, Neven performs very well for the team and becomes the regular starter at centre back.

Another date that will remain etched in his memory will be October 21st, 2007; the day Neven scores his first professional goal in the derby vs. Wiesbaden. The goal gave him a huge self-confidence boost and during the 2007-2008 season he would go on to score four goals and play a total of 33 matches.

In addition, FSV Mainz had the league-best defence with only 36 goals allowed for the year and ended the season in the 4 th place of Bundesliga 2. Neven was voted best centre back in Bundesliga 2. Everyone in the club was impressed by Neven’s maturity and quick ascension from an unknown newcomer.

The double tear for Mainz
At the end of the season some surprises were in store as coach Jürgen Klopp is seen as a highly sought commodity by Borussia Dortmund and asked to take over the coaching duties.

Klopp in turn made Neven his priority recruit. After a great season in Bundesliga, FSV Mainz lost not only its emblematic coach but also a top young player.

But how could anyone turn down the opportunity to play for such a storied club in front of 80 000 supporters on a weekly basis?