NEWMAINS are supporting New Mainz in the Bundesliga. Ahead of Sunday’s clash with RB Leipzig our reporter LIAM DOCHERTY takes a look at one of Mainz’s starmen.
ROBIN QUAISON has become a crucial player for Mainz in their battle for survival in the Bundesliga.
The Swedish attacking midfielder is having arguably his best season as a professional after forcing his way into the top five of league scorers.
As well as 12 goals to his name he was also level with Philippe Coutinho on number of shots for the season (58) before last week’s resumption.
Quaison - who can also play as a winger or a striker - was born in Stockholm October 9 1993 to a Ghanaian father and Swedish mother.
He came through the youth ranks at AIK and made his professional debut for Vasty United during a loan spell in 2011 when he was only 18.
After returning to AIK he scored his first goal the following May.
Quaison made his European debut the next season as he became a mainstay in the AIK lineup. Seven goals in 51 appearances landed him a callup to the Swedish national team. A first international goal quickly followed a few days after his debut in the final of the 2013 King’s Cup against Finland.
By 2014 he had a host of English clubs tracking him including Stoke. But he opted to pen a three-year deal with Palermo in a £1.8million deal ahead of their return to Serie A.
Quaison scored seven goals in 66 appearances in Italy before Mainz splashed £2.25million in the January window of 2017.
He started slowly in the Bundesliga with just one goal from 11 appearances in his first season. But he found a foothold in the squad the following season and has now played over 80 times for the club.
Quaison scored his first career hat-trick in a 5-0 win against Werder Bremen in 2019 – and would take another treble at home to RB Leipzig this Sunday.