Bayerwäldler in the US: Another Cruciate Trauma for Michael Schisel – doubts about a return to the field

“I’m actually fit like never before,” says Michael Schisle, 26. This additional setback is even more annoying. For the second time, a Bavarian from Gerstal (Rijn district) tore the cruciate ligament in his left knee. Scheßl himself does not yet know how it will go.

After a short break with Southeastern regional league team Sturm Hauzenberg in Corona Summer 2020, the former Bayernliga player (Ruhmannsfelden, Bogen) has returned to college in Tampa (Florida), where he is currently studying for a master’s degree in sports science with a soccer scholarship.

After his first cruciate ligament rupture and years of consequences, he really wanted to start on the college team. “For the first time in a long time, I was completely pain free,” Scheßl says. But then, the shock was in the second match only after a long break: Scheßl runs against an opponent, pushes slightly to the left and feels his knee fades away. He immediately suspects the worst, but does not feel severe pain in the following days. “I wish I had too much of the ligaments, but the MRI scan confirmed my concerns.”

Then the following happened: Michael Schesl after a torn cruciate ligament.

Then the following happened: Michael Schesl after a torn cruciate ligament.

Michael Schisel will be back in Germany in a few days and has an appointment with the knee specialist in Straubing. He also spoke on the phone with Patrick Root of Schaldingen, who healed the cruciate ligament using conservative methods, that is, without surgery. “But it won’t help me,” Scheßl asserts. “Among other things, you need a healthy patellar tendon for this – and I don’t have that.”

So Scheßl has basic ideas these days: Does he want another operation and a long rehab, or is he abandoning it – and thus playing soccer too? “This raises doubts. Maybe it shouldn’t be the case. When I think about what I want to do with my life in the long term – hiking, mountain biking, fishing – I don’t necessarily need the cruciate ligament.” Scheßl says commenting on his soccer shoes Forever is definitely an option. “But I will very likely be itchy again soon. Football is my great love.”