Patrick Mainka (born 6 November 1994) is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains 2. Bundesliga club 1. FC Heidenheim.
Career Early career Born in Gütersloh, Mainka played youth football for Victoria Clarholz and FSC Rheda before joining Arminia Bielefeld's academy in 2009. Mainka made his debut and only appearance for Arminia Bielefeld on 15 December 2013, coming on as a second half substitute for Marc Lorenz in a 4–1 victory at home to Greuther Fürth.
Werder Bremen II Mainka left Arminia Bielefeld in the summer of 2014, joining Werder Bremen II for an undisclosed fee. On 1 August 2014, Mainka made his debut for Werder Bremen II in a 3–3 draw at Eintracht Braunschweig II, before scoring the first goal of his senior career in the following match at home to Schwarz-Weiß Rehden. He made 23 appearances in the league that season, scoring three, before scoring the winning goal in the second leg of the promotion playoff match Borussia Mönchengladbach II to promote Werder Bremen II to the 3. Liga. He made 9 appearances during the 2015–16 season for Werder Bremen II before leaving in January 2016.
Borussia Dortmund II Mainka joined Borussia Dortmund II on a two-and-a-half-year contract in January 2016. He made his debut for the club on 6 February 2016 in a 1–1 draw at home to Viktoria Köln, going on to make 18 appearances during the 2015–16 season, scoring once. He remained a regular player over the next two seasons for Borussia Dortmund II, scoring 2 goals in 34 games across the 2016–17 season and 6 goals in 34 games during the 2017–18 season, and he was also captain of Borussia Dortmund II.
1. FC Heidenheim In the summer of 2018, Mainka joined 1. FC Heidenheim on a two-year contract, following the expiration of his contract at Borussia Dortmund. Mainka made his debut for Heidenheim in their second game of the season; a 1–1 draw away at Holstein Kiel. He scored his first goal for Heidenheim on 4 May 2019; a right footed shot in the 60th minute of a 3–2 defeat at home to SV Sandhausen. Across the 2018–19 season, he started 32 of Heidenheim's 34 games, scoring 2 goals. Having been a regular player for Heidenheim in early stages of the 2019–20 season, his contract was extended in November 2019 until the summer of 2024.
In summer 2021, he was made the new captain of Heidenheim. He was part of the Heidenheim team that was promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in the club's history at the end of the 2022–23 season.
In December 2023, Mainka's contract with the club was extended until 2027. Mainka played every minute of Heidenheim's first two Bundesliga seasons, making him the third ever play to play every minute of two consecutive Bundesliga seasons after Christian Günter and Philipp Lahm.
In August 2025, he again extended his contract until summer 2029.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsArminia Bielefeld II2012–13Oberliga Westfalen204——204Arminia Bielefeld2013–142. Bundesliga1000—10Werder Bremen II2014–15Regionalliga Nord254——2542015–163. Liga90——90Total344——344Borussia Dortmund II2015–16Regionalliga West181——1812016–17Regionalliga West342——3422017–18Regionalliga West346——346Total869——8691. FC Heidenheim2018–192. Bundesliga32240—3622019–202. Bundesliga32020203602020–212. Bundesliga33510—3452021–222. Bundesliga32311—3342022–232. Bundesliga34321—3642023–24Bundesliga34220—3622024–25Bundesliga34110914422025–26Bundesliga34220—3622026–272. Bundesliga6010—70Total2711816211129821Career total4113516211143838
Honours 1. FC Heidenheim 2. Bundesliga: 2022–23
Individual The Athletic Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2023–24
References
External links