Sebastian Mielitz

Sebastian Mielitz (born 18 July 1989) is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for VfB Oldenburg.

Sebastian Mielitz was born in Zehdenick, and began his football career at Eintracht Oranienburg, moving later to MSV Neuruppin and Energie Cottbus.

In 2005, he joined the youth team of SV Werder Bremen at age 17.

On 10 November 2007, he debuted for the second team of Werder Bremen in the second half of a match, replacing the injured first-choice goalkeeper Nico Pellatz.

During the 2007–08 season, Mielitz appeared twice as an unused substitute for a match against Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen.

In August 2008, Mielitz extended his contract until 2010.

His professional debut in the 3. Liga was on 16 August 2008 against Jahn Regensburg.

He played 20 times for the side in the 2008–09 season despite competing with Pellatz over a first choice role at the club's reserve.

Two seasons later, he made his first appearance with Werder's first team on 3 December 2009 in a Europa League home match against Nacional, filling in for the injured Tim Wiese.

Three days later, on 6 December 2009, he debuted in the Bundesliga in a 0–0 away draw against 1. FC Köln, making a good performance throughout the match and kept his first clean sheet on his debut.

Although he was a third-choice goalkeeper for the 2009–10 season, he said he was willing to be patient to fight over a first choice goalkeeper role in the near future.

He made a total of three appearances in the 2009–10 season.

In February 2010, Mielitz signed a contract extension, keeping him until 2012.

On 30 March 2010, when he made another appearance, starting in goal once again, in a 4–2 win over FC Nürnberg.

He suffered a knee injury later in the season.

Mielitz remained a third-choice goalkeeper behind Wiese and Christian Vander ahead of the 2010–11 season.

On 20 October 2010, he made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League group stage against Twente, coming on for the injured Wiese.

Three days later, he started in goal again, making several saves contributing to 4–1 away win against Borussia Mönchengladbach, the club's first of the season.

After the match, his performance was praised and he was named Man of the Match.

He featured in another Champions League match against Twente on 2 November 2010 which Werder Bremen 2–0 lost.

He remained on the substitute bench for the rest of the 2010–11 season.

After this, Mielitz remained on the substitute bench for the next two months until coming on as a late substitute following Wiese's sending off in a 3–1 loss against Bayern Munich on 29 January 2011.

He appeared three more matches from 5 February 2011 to 19 February 2011 before Wiese's return from suspension.

Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Mielitz was promoted to a second–choice goalkeeper behind Wiese, taking Vander's place and demoting him to third-choice.

After starting the season on the substitute bench, he made his first appearance on 17 September 2011 coming on as a replacement for Wiese, who had been sent off in the early minutes of the match, and conceding a goal in the second–half from Philipp Wollscheid, in a 1–1 draw against 1. FC Nürnberg.

While Wiese served a three-match ban until late October, Mielitz played the next three matches and filled in showing very good performances, including in a win over Hertha BSC on 25 September 2011.

On 3 December 2011, he started again after Wiese was given a bereavement leave, and conceded four goals, in a 4–1 defeat to Bayern Munich.

He remained on the substitute bench throughout the 2011–12 season and was limited to a total of 7 appearances for the side.

After suffering short–term injury in January 2012, he was featured in two matches between 17 March 2012 and 24 March 2012 following Wiese's injury.

Shortly after the end of the season, he signed another contract extension in May 2012 which would keep him until 2014.

Ahead of the 2012–13 season, Mielitz was expected to be the club's first choice goalkeeper by the club's general manager Klaus Allofs following the departure of Wiese to Hoffenheim.

In the LIGA total! Cup 2012, Mielitz was the hero when he made two saves in the penalties shoot-out (one from Bastian Schweinsteiger) in a 4–2 win over Bayern Munich to progress through the final which they beat Borussia Dortmund in a penalty shoot-out again the following day.

After the match against Bayern Munich, he said YouTube helped him save a penalty from Schweinsteiger.

After starting in goal in the opening game of the season against Borussia Dortmund, he kept his first clean sheet, in a 2–0 win over Hamburg on 1 September 2012.

Throughout the 2012–13 season, Mielitz was an ever present goalkeeper for the side, but received criticism from the media and pundits, including Frank Rost for conceding goals and lack of clean sheets, which he kept three times during the season.

In response to criticism, Mielitz defended himself, saying: "I make my cause well!"

and felt he was treated unfairly.

During a 1–1 draw against 1.

At the end of the season, during which he made the total of 10 appearances for the side, Mielitz signed another contract extension, keeping him until 2013.

FSV Mainz 05 on 30 March 2013, he put out his best performance at Werder Bremen, making a lot of saves, to help the side ease their chance to avoid relegation.