Stefan Wessels’ impressive performances for his club TuS Lingen and the Niedersachsen county team were rewarded with a call up for the U19 national team. This in turn prompted interest from the most successful Bundesliga club of all time, FC Bayern Munich.

Stefan was part of the German U20 team that finished runner-up in the U20 World Cup in Nigeria, 2000. He completed his A-levels before joining Bayern Munich’s youth team, where he continued to receive call ups for the national youth teams. Whilst playing for the youth team in Munich, Stefan completed his compulsory military service in one of the sports promotion groups.
After a year in the regional league, Bayern Munich trainer Ottmar Hitzfeld added Stefan to the extended squad of licensed professionals for the 1999/2000 preseason. This allowed Stefan to train with professionals, such as Sven Scheuer, Bernd Dreher, and Oliver Kahn.
Once the season started, however, Stefan returned to the regional league team, and spent the first few Bundesliga matches on the bench, as a back-up for Bernd Dreher. Then Stefan was called up for a U20 tournament in Oman. He left Munich a day early in order to spend an evening at home in Lingen. It was there that he watched the match between Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Bayern Munich. At this point Bernd Dreher and Oliver Kahn were Bayern's only fit goalkeepers beside Stefan. Sven Scheuer was unfortunately injured. The match in Frankfurt is one that Stefan, and many fans, will never forget. First, Oliver Kahn collided with Sammy Kuffour and had to be substituted. A few minutes later his replacement, Bernd Dreher, was also forced to leave the field with a twisted knee. Midfielder Michael Tarnat kept goal for the rest of the match. Immediately after the match Stefan received a phone call from Munich. He was to return immediately, as he would be making his first team debut against Glasgow Rangers in the forthcoming Champions League match.

And so began Stefan’s professional career. Wearing number 33 he held his nerve and performed impressively at a sold-out Ibrox. The match ended in a 1:1 draw, and Stefan was later rewarded with appearances in the Bundesliga and a professional contract.
Stefan spent the following two years establishing himself as the number 2 behind Oliver Kahn. He alternated on the bench with Bernd Dreher. However, when Oliver Kahn was forced to miss matches, Stefan was the one called upon to play.
Stefan spent a few further years learning from German goalkeeping legend Sepp Maier before his contract at Bayern Munich expired in the summer of 2003. It was time for a change – for the challenge of being "number one” at a Bundesliga club.

The offer from 1.FC Cologne was perfect - an ambitious club in a good location, and soon to have a brand new stadium. Stefan made his debut for Cologne on 3.8.2003 in Mönchengladbach on the first day of the season. The match ended with a 1:0 defeat, but Stefan’s performance saw him named in the “Team of the Day” in the German football magazine, "Kicker". Unfortunately Stefan's first season at Cologne was not particularly successful. Despite regular good performances, the team rarely picked up any points. Trainer Friedhelm Funkel was replaced with Marcel Koller, but he too failed to inspire Cologne to the necessary victories.

As a result 1.FC Cologne was relegation to the 2nd division. Stefan had already extended his contract until summer 2007 – a sign of his commitment to the club, and of the club's belief in his ability. Although he was often forced to pick the ball out of his goal, and Cologne finished last in the Bundesliga, Stefan could be content with his first year as a first-choice goalkeeper. He had rescued more than a few points for the club, and had performed well. A highlight was the dual with his former club, Bayern Munich. The Cologne keeper repelled attack after attack from his old team-mates. In the end Munich were forced to settle for a draw. Following the game Stefan’s former colleagues spoke of “the game of Stefan’s career“.

During the summer break in 2004, Marcel Koller also had to leave Cologne, giving up his place on the bench in the new Rhein-Energie Stadium to Dutch trainer Huub Stevens. After preseason preparations, Stevens too placed his faith in Stefan’s ability. Once again Stefan had seen off the challenge of his roommate Alexander Bade.

After 4 matches, however, Stefan broke his wrist in training. The original prognosis was that this injury would keep Stefan out of action for 4 weeks. However, the injury required an operation after these 4 weeks. A titanium pin was inserted in his hand. Stefan was forced to watch the entire first half of the season from the stands. He spent the time working on conditioning and acceleration in a specialist training camp in Mannheim. A top-fit Stefan – as confirmed by his goalkeeping coach - returned to training with the team just in time for preparations for the second half of the season. However, Alexander Bade had had a good season, and Huub Stevens continued to play Bade in goal – never change a winning team. Win after win brought the team closer to its target of promotion, which was eventually achieved. Stefan Wessels did get another 3 run outs, and by the end of the season was able to boast impressive figures of 7 matches, 6 clean sheets!

Summer 2005 saw trainer Huub Stevens leave the club for personal reasons. The Cologne board appointed Uwe Rapolder from Bielefeld as the new coach. A new goalkeeping coach was also brought in. Peter Greiber, with whom Stefan had a very good relationship, switched to 2nd division club VfL Bochum, and Holger Gehrke was promoted to goalkeeping coach.

Once again the two Cologne goalkeepers faced a dual during the preseason preparations. Promotion-winning keeper Alexander Bade, or Stefan Wessels, the original „number one“?

Two weeks before the opening match against FSV Mainz 05 Rapolder made his decision. Stefan would start the season between the posts. For the third time Stefan was able to convince a trainer that he should be the "number one".

 
 











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