Piplica returns: A football hero celebrates Cottbus' 60 years!

Piplica returns: A football hero celebrates Cottbus' 60 years!

What does a goalkeeper actually do who came to Germany almost three decades ago and has a permanent place in the hearts of Energie Cottbus fans? Tomislav Piplica, who is also affectionately known as “Pipi” by his supporters, can look back on an eventful football career. In 1998 he moved to FC Energie Cottbus and became part of an era that led the club to the Bundesliga in 2000 - a true highlight in the club's history. Cottbus was first class from 2000 to 2003 and from 2006 to 2009 and celebrated some memorable seasons.

Although Piplica has not been to the Friendship Stadium privately since his departure from Cottbus in 2011, his bond with the city and the club remains unbroken. During his time at Cottbus, the goalkeeper made a lasting impression not only on the pitch but also off it as he continued his career with various clubs including Wacker Nordhausen and Lok Leipzig. The goalkeeper also had his difficulties, which helped him achieve cult status, as shown by the memorable own-goal blunder against Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2002, which resulted in the game ending 3-3. But despite these misfortunes, he remains a legend among the Cottbus fans.

The beginnings and successes

But how did everything come about? Piplica was born on April 5, 1969 and previously played for various clubs in Bosnia. His journey took him into the history books of German football via the Bundesliga. Energie Cottbus, founded in 1966, already had an eventful history before it finally made it onto the big football stage in 2000. The first promotion to the Bundesliga was a milestone that many fans still remember today.

The years between 2000 and 2009 were a time of growth for the club. Among other things, the team won one of the most memorable games in its history against FC Bayern Munich during this time. Piplica was there and is often associated with the positive memories of this promotion. But Cottbus was also an “elevator team” that was promoted and relegated several times in the 1980s. Regardless of these ups and downs, the club remains an integral part of the German football landscape.

A look back at the career

After leaving Cottbus, Piplica continued his career as a goalkeeping coach and was also active in other coaching positions, including at SC Hartenfels Torgau 04 and as interim coach at Lokomotive Leipzig. He also became part of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian national team, where he made his debut in 2001 and played a total of 8 international matches. His son, Zak Paulo Piplica, follows in his father's footsteps and also plays for 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig.

Energie Cottbus itself will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2025 and has established itself as one of the 56 best clubs in Germany. The club's successes are inextricably linked to personalities like Piplica, who are not only a part of history, but also its story-writers. The club has also overcome challenges such as the failed promotion to the third division in the 2023 season and was finally able to make the jump to the third division in the summer of 2024.

A great legacy

The story of Tomislav Piplica and Energie Cottbus is one of many anecdotes, setbacks and an unwavering passion for sport. And who knows, maybe the future will bring even more exciting chapters for the cult goalkeeper and his beloved club. Football has a long history in Cottbus, and when Piplica talks about it, you can immediately feel that it's not just about the sport, but also about an attitude to life.

Wherever the journey goes – the connection between Tomislav Piplica and Energie Cottbus remains and is a true source of inspiration for future generations in football.

Further information about Piplica and Energie Cottbus can be found here: Kicker, Wikipedia and Sports show.