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Mesut Özil: Play reveals his ambivalent football tragedy!
On October 17, 2025, the play “The Wizard of Öz” will premiere at the Bremen Theater and shed light on Mesut Özil’s complex life.
Mesut Özil: Play reveals his ambivalent football tragedy!
An exciting chapter in football history is coming to life for Bremen theatergoers today: The play “The Wizard of Öz – a Football Tragedy” is celebrating its premiere in the Small House of the Bremen Theater, which not only deals with the career of Mesut Özil, but also with the complex topics of integration and identity. [Deichstube] reports that the production traces the footsteps of the former SV Werder Bremen player and also illuminates the social and migration policy aspects of his life.
The piece, written by Akin Emanuel Şipal, who grew up in the Ruhr area with Turkish roots, provides a deep insight into the ambivalence surrounding Özil's role in German society. In particular, his visit to Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the run-up to the 2018 World Cup divided public opinion and called into question his status as a symbol of integration. Özil has played for big clubs such as Real Madrid and Arsenal FC during his career and won the 2014 World Cup title, but the perception of him as a person remains divided. The Werder Bremen club officially distanced itself from him and emphasized that his development did not match the club's values, which further complicated his role. [RND] emphasizes that the play raises the question of whether Özil is a victim or a perpetrator in the public perception.
A look at the performances
The premiere is just the beginning, as six further performances of the piece are already planned. On October 19th and 24th, November 5th and 14th and December 7th and 12th, viewers can continue to follow the complex narrative surrounding Özil's life and discover the different perspectives. Director Aram Tafreshian emphasizes the importance of dealing with such complex topics in theater in order to promote discourse and make different perspectives visible.
However, the production is not limited to sports. It is also dedicated to the challenges that migrants experience in Germany, especially in football. Cacau, a former national player and integration ambassador for the DFB, often speaks in conversations about the broken paths to integration and what football and sport in general can mean for young people. This is also reflected in the debate surrounding Özil, whose career and the reactions to it raise many questions about identity and belonging. [Deutschlandfunk Kultur] offers comprehensive insights into the complexity of the topic of integration in football and society.
In summary, the play “The Wizard of Öz” not only brings the movements of an athlete onto the stage, but also opens a space for critical reflection on life in a multicultural society. The ambitious production will undoubtedly make viewers think and encourage discussions that go far beyond the pitch.