Mats Köhlert

Early years

Köhlert was born on 2 May 1998 in Hamburg and grew up in Norderstedt, just north of the city. He played youth football for SC Sperber Hamburg and Eintracht Norderstedt, and in the youth ranks of FC St. Pauli, before joining the academy of Hamburger SV in 2013.

Hamburger SV

After joining the academy in 2013, Köhlert progressed through Hamburg's youth teams, and in February 2016—having already trained with the first team during international breaks—signed his first professional contract, which ran until 30 June 2019. From the 2016–17 season, Köhlert played for the reserve team in the fourth-tier Regionalliga Nord. He returned from a three-month injury in October 2017, and in January 2018 trained on trial with Austrian top-flight club Admira Wacker, though no transfer followed. He established himself on the right wing during the 2018–19 season, scoring four of his five reserve goals that season, and in March 2019 was called up to the first-team squad by manager Hannes Wolf. Köhlert made his professional debut on 30 March 2019, coming on as a substitute in the 78th minute for Vasilije Janjičić in a 0–0 away draw at VfL Bochum; he added two further 2. Bundesliga appearances before leaving Hamburg on the expiry of his contract that summer.

Willem II

On 1 July 2019, Köhlert signed with Eredivisie club Willem II following the expiration of his contract with Hamburger SV. At the time, the club's technical director was former Netherlands…

In 2015, Köhlert was included in the Germany U17 national team for the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Bulgaria. He made four appearances in the tournament, with the team managing to reach the final before losing 4–1 to France. However, the team still managed to qualify for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, with Köhlert subsequently included in Germany's squad. He appeared in all four of Germany's matches, with the team being eliminated in the round of 16 after a 2–0 defeat to Croatia. In 2017, Köhlert was included in Germany's squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Georgia. He made one appearance in the tournament, Germany's opening match against the Netherlands, which finished as a 4–1 loss. The team were eliminated in the group stage of the tournament.

Köhlert first appeared as a child in commercials for Kinder Chocolate, BMW, IKEA, Smarties, McDonald's and Tchibo. In 2008, he played an uncredited role as a child in the film Krauts, Doubts & Rock 'n' Roll. In 2009, he appeared as Philipp in the episode "Schwanenmord" of the television series Die Pfefferkörner. Later that year, he played the role of Klein Brakelmann in the episode "Goldene Erinnerungen" of the television series Neues aus Büttenwarder. Köhlert played his first major role at the side of Maria Furtwängler as Uwe in the 2011 television film Schicksalsjahre. In the same year, he took part in the episode "Borowski und der coole Hund" of the German police procedural Tatort.

Filmography

Film

Television

Köhlert's father, Dirk Köhlert, was also a footballer, who played for Holstein Kiel and SC Norderstedt in the Regionalliga Nord, then the third tier of German football. He completed his Abitur at the Gymnasium Heidberg in 2016.