Today, Miguel Alessandro Boock will lead the Hamburg Sea Devils into the European League of Football’s Championship game.
The 30-year-old German middle linebacker is one of the unsung heroes for the Sea Devils. He not only leads the team onto the field each game, but he also leads the team in tackles.
The man who anchors the best defense in the league in tackles will undoubtedly play a significant role in the final. His intensity and swagger are perfectly symbolic of the Sea Devils approach to the game.
We sat down with Boock on the eve of the Championship Game and picked his brain.
AFI: Can you tell me a bit about your journey into the ELF and becoming one of the leaders of the team?
Boock: I played the years before ELF in the GFL for coach Andreas Nommensen, I was one of the first who got a call from coach Nommensen when he became part of the Sea Devils to be a part of the Sea Devils and it was a no brainer for me.
I always took pride in being named the team captain, and being the captain of the defense as a MLB is often the case because as a MLB you’re the QB of the defense. Leading by example and being reliable for the team and also for the coaches I think made me who I am today.
AFI: Where was your head at after the final last year and was it your immediate intention to get back there this year?
Boock: Ain’t gonna lie, this was a tough loss being so close and losing it was a tough pill to swallow. Coach Kendrall Ellison and I, the defensive coordinator, obviously talked right after the game and we said we got to run it back. This was our main goal all off season and regular season this year.
AFI: How do you feel the season has gone this year?
Boock: We started out good and had a lil bump in the road to Klagenfurt in week 2 against Barcelona. We took that loss as a motivation for the rest of the season. Our coaches have done a great job preparing us and put us in the best position.
Like Coach Kendrall said, we had three or four games where our opponent didn’t score. We build week from week to reach our main goal to get to Klagenfurt. And I think we did a good job from top to bottom.
AFI: What has been one of the most difficult challenges you guys have faced this year?
Boock: Being the number one team in the league means every team wants to have their A game against you. You’re the hunted! I wouldn’t really say it’s difficult but to stay focused on our mission and stay on our path was the most important thing for our team.
AFI: What will it take to beat the Vikings?
Boock: Vienna is and has been a really good organization, they are well coached. But the same stands for us. It’s going to be a tough game, and a good game to watch for every football fan. We have got to play our best.