Sascha Bigalke
Quick Facts
Biography
Sascha Bigalke (born 8 January 1990 in West Berlin) is a German footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder, most recently for SpVgg Unterhaching in the 3. Liga.
Career
Club career
Bigalke started his professional career with Hertha BSC, making his first appearance on 31 July 2008 in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup first qualifying round second leg against FC Nistru Otaci. In January 2011, he was set to transfer to Arminia Bielefeld, but the deal fell through when Bigalke broke his foot shortly before the completion of the transfer. Having made only a single league appearance for Hertha, he transferred for free to SpVgg Unterhaching in July 2011.
In Unterhaching Bigalke became a regular and key player scoring nine goals and providing twelve assists in 45 matches (league and cup). By a good performance in a 1-2 first round DFB-Pokal loss against 1. FC Köln he drew the opponent's attention and signed for them in August 2012, on transfer deadline day. The transfer fee amounted allegedly €400,000 and helped chronically cash-strapped Unterhaching obtaining license.
In this first season for 1. FC Köln Bigalke played a decent role with 16 appearances and eight of them in the starting eleven. During the 2013-14 pre-season although he tore his cruciate ligament hurtling into the opponent's goalkeeper in a friendly against local SF Troisdorf. Subsequently he missed almost the whole season, only being substituted once at second last matchday in a home fixture against FC St. Pauli. Despite the match being meaningless, 1. FC Köln's promotion to Bundesliga was already certain, the team won 4-0 and Bigalke scored even a goal.
On 22 July 2014, the day of the team photo shooting, 1. FC Köln announced that Bigalke, along with four more players, wouldn't any more a part of the first team. Instead he was urged to leave the club and had to participate in the training of second team. Consequently his contract was dissolved by mutual agreement and hence he was able to return to Unteraching on a free transfer. He signed for them on one-year deal including an extension clause for another year.