When the great FC Bayern traveled to Darmstadt in May 2008 to once again save a struggling traditional club with a charity game, things were looking bad for the “Liliens”, who were threatened with insolvency. At this point, a decision was also made at Skarke: namely, to agree to the transfer of the talented eleven-year-old son Tim to 1. FC Heidenheim. So when the existence of the SVD was secured in Darmstadt, a football career began at FCH.
Almost 16 years later, probably the strongest Skarke of his career in the “Lilien” jersey will meet the Munich team this Saturday (3.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on Sky) at the Böllenfalltor. And is possibly the only Darmstadt professional that Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel will explicitly warn his defensive players about. In front of his speed, which Skarke now knows how to combine on the field with plenty of robustness and agility. And his final strength, which is illustrated by six goals this season (and two assists).
A quota that is worthy of honor for a professional in the ranks of the bottom of the table without a win for 18 games. Especially since Skarke, who is based on the right wing, has already been used at the top and most recently in the right-back position. “I feel a great deal of trust from the coach and my teammates. That’s the reason why I feel so comfortable and can develop my potential,” says Skarke in an interview with the FAZ
The trust is so great that Lieberknecht trusts his best man – “Tim is a bombshell for me” – to do anything and orders him to where the need is greatest. In the home fiasco against Augsburg (0:6) that was the position at the right back in the back four from a certain point and 90 minutes in Leipzig (0:2). Tim Skarke is everywhere, they say at the “Lilien”, sometimes as a stabilizer, sometimes as a driver, sometimes as a pacesetter, sometimes as a goalscorer. “If anyone shows this constant level of being able to play in the Bundesliga, it is Tim,” praises Lieberknecht.
To get to this level, Skarke made two uncomfortable career decisions. The first was to leave his hometown club in Heidenheim after eleven years and join the Darmstadt team for the first time in 2019. He was already a thrilling player back then, rushing around the pitch almost out of breath. But it often seemed that his fast legs required all of his concentration when he ran on the wing – and he was no longer able to raise his head before crosses and crosses.
“Cohesion and faith continue to be strong”
Nevertheless, after three years he left the South Hesse comfort zone for free to join the first division club Union Berlin. Although Skarke made his first two Europa League appearances, he didn’t find his luck in the capital due to a lack of playing time. His journey continued as a loan player who joined Schalke 04 in the second half of the season.
The competition at Union and the relegation battle at the Royal Blues were like toughening up for Skarke. “They were not easy steps, but they were important for my maturation and learning process,” he says. “Not much can upset me anymore because I am fully focused and have gained a lot of self-confidence. Because I know that with my strengths I can get past any opponent in 1-1 duels.” What he is now putting to good use as a loan player in Darmstadt.
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In Skarke’s eyes, there is no reason to be afraid of Bayern’s home game that the SVD goal will be hit again like it was in the first half of the season, which the champions won 8-0. “It was important that we regained our composure against Leipzig and were more compact. We feel comfortable in the system with the back four, that gives us security,” he says.
“It speaks for this team how intact it is, even though we have already had to take so many blows in the neck. If you look at the last few weeks alone: the missed goal in Bremen in stoppage time would have been a much-needed sense of achievement. Then came the 6-0 defeat against Augsburg, a game that only happens every ten years. Other teams would fall apart because of this, but for us the solidarity and belief are still great,” says Skarke.