Nico Patschinski

1980–1994: Youth and rise with Union

Patschinski was born in Berlin. He began to play ice hockey in SC Dynamo Berlin's youth department. He was inspired by his father who himself had been a successful ice hockey player. Two years later, Patschinski switched sports and took up football, joining BFC Dynamo. In 1988, Patschinski was transferred to 1. FC Union Berlin.

1994–2000: Rambler

Patschinski made his debut in the senior team in 1994 and established himself as a regular in the following season. But in 1997, Union were hit hard by financial troubles and Patschinski took up the offer of Potsdam-based SV Babelsberg 03. Patschinski did not have a good time in Potsdam, even though he played regularly. The fans had an inherent distrust of Berlin-born players and were quick to criticize them. In the summer of 1998, Patschinski left the club and signed a contract with Dynamo Dresden. In a match with his new club in Babelsberg, Patschinski scored for Dresden and subsequently showed the fans of Balsberg the bird. Patschinski spent one year in Dresden, scoring 11 goals in 31 matches He then moved to SpVgg Greuther Fürth to finally play in a fully professional league. He gained some experience in the 2. Bundesliga with Fürth, but did neither score a goal nor become a regular starter. Therefore, he sought a move away from Fürth after only one season. Additionally, Berlin-born Patschinski did not feel at home in rural Fürth.

2000–2003: Success with St. Pauli…

Patschinski has three children. He and Mariana Kautz were married in December 2006. Their relationship ended in winter 2009. By the end of his footballing career, Patschinski had lost most of the money he had earned. In July 2015, he began working as a funeral director in the Hamburg area. Having also worked as a parcel carrier and a dishwasher, he later became a bus driver.