Since transferring from Heidenheim to Mainz during the January 2025 transfer window, twice-capped USMNT international Lennard Maloney has barely featured at all for his new club. The former Union Berlin, Borussia Dortmund, and FCH professional only made five exceedingly brief relief appearances last spring. Heidenheim head coach Frank Schmidt famously questioned Maloney’s effort and commitment last autumn.
At the beginning of this season, it appeared almost certain that the 26-year-old would play zero role for Bo Henriksen’s Rheinhessen. Despite the fact that Maloney once excelled as a midfielder (even leading the Bundesliga in overall distance covered for a few stretches during the 2023/24 season), there was no room for him in Mainz’s crowded midfield.
One should nevertheless not forget that the tall and stocky Maloney can also work as a centre-back and served almost exclusively in this capacity whilst at Dortmund. Henriksen has turned to the Berlin native to anchor his back-three in the last two matches.
Maloney anchored the back-three for the full 90 minutes against VfB Stuttgart in the Pokal midweek. Maloney again started against Bremen in the league this weekend, again going the full 90 minutes against Horst Steffen’s Hanseaten.
The German-American – having also featured as a defensive midfielder against Zrinjski Mostar – has now made three starts for the Nullfünfter. Maloney organized Mainz’s back-three prudently and held talented Bremen striker Victor Boniface in check during the last league fixture.
Mainz sporting director Nico Bungert was particularly impressed by Maloney’s recent performances.
“He did an excellent job, winning good tackles and playing physically,” Bungert – as quoted by Kicker – noted after the latest Bundesliga match. “He’s a leader and organizer for the central position, a tackling monster, and a guy the others will listen to. Those are three very important factors for a good centre-back.
