Mainz boss praises Bayern Munich loanee Armindo Sieb after crucial European goal
Sieb needs to take advantage of every opportunity he can to climb up the pecking order.
MAINZ, GERMANY - JANUARY 13: Nadiem Amiri of 1. FSV Mainz 05 celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Armindo Sieb during the Bundesliga match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and 1.
FC Heidenheim 1846 at MEWA Arena on January 13, 2026 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) | Getty Images Armindo Sieb has had such a hard time of things at Mainz 05. Sent on a two year loan from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024, the rise of Jonathan Burkardt and inconsistency kept the young striker rooted to the bench for long periods of the 2024/25 season.
After Burkardt moved to Eintracht Frankfurt for the 2025/26 season, there was hope that Sieb had matured and would be able to somewhat replace Mainz’s star forward. That has not happened, however, as again Sieb has remained rooted to the bench for most of the season. Mainz’s exploits in the Conference League this season have, however, opened up more of a need to rotate.
Former Mainz boss Bo Henriksson did not really acknowledge that need and kept playing his most trusted players on Thursdays, but new head coach Urs Fischer has been more open to rotation since he arrived. Sieb again started on the bench in the return leg of Mainz’s Round of 16 Conference League clash against Sigma. But he came on to the pitch in minute 74 and delivered, scoring the crucial goal to make it 2-0 and secure victory, as well as progression to the quarterfinals, for Mainz.