Thorsten Kramer

Thorsten Kramer

Personal information
Full name	Thorsten Wilhelm Kramer
Date of birth	May 4, 2000
Height	183cm (6'1)
Playing position	Centre midfield
Place of birth	Stelburg, Teusland
Club information
Current club	1830 Cathair
Number	10
Youth career
2010-17	FC Teussen Stelburg
Senior career
2017-23	FC Teussen Stelburg
2023-	1830 Cathair
International career
National team	Siovanija and Teusland
Caps	134
Goals	37

Thorsten Wilhelm Kramer (born May 4, 2000) is a Siovanija & Teusland professional footballer who plays centre midfield for Audioslavian club 1830 Cathair and the Siovanija and Teusland national football team. Considered to be the best footballer from Siovanija & Teusland, and one of the top players in the world, Kramer has won a Republikaliga title with FC Teussen Stelburg, as well as 2 Audioslav National League titles with 1830 Cathair. The greatest accomplishment of Kramer's club career, to date, was being part of the Cathair squad that won IFCF Champions' League 1, defeating Brenecian side Northern Stallions in a penalty shootout.

Born in the city of Stelburg, Teusland, Kramer grew up in the city playing football and as a fan of local club FC Teussen Stelburg. Having earned a reputation for himself as a schoolboy playing in the city's youth leagues, Kramer was signed to an academy contract at FC Teussen Stelburg at the age of 10. His stock continued to rise over the years, and by the time he was 15, he was being discussed as the number 1 prospect in all of Siovanija & Teusland. At the age of 18, he broke in Teussen's first team, and became a key fixture in the starting eleven for the rest of his time at the club. In the summer of 2023, he was sold to Audioslav giants 1830 Cathair for a fee of 15 million tolars, and has become a key player for the club in his time there.

Internationally, Kramer represents Siovanija & Teusland, and is considered to be the best footballer in that country's history. As the nation did not participate in international football during his youth career, he never appeared for any national youth teams. Siovanija & Teusland officially joined the World Cup Committee before World Cup 80, participating in the Baptism of Fire, and Kramer was selected to that very first squad. He appeared in the Goldhorns' first ever match, a 3-1 win over The Cereal Isle, and scored his first goal in his second match, the winning goal in a 4-1 win over Tzerinn. Kramer has served as vice-captain of the national team in several tournaments, and played a key role in leading the Goldhorns to their first World Cup Finals appearance in World Cup 84.

Arguably the most famous athlete in Siovanija & Teusland, Kramer has endorsed domestic sportswear company Adler, the biggest brand in Siovanija & Teusland, as well as several other products within the country. He was named in the Stelburger Zeitung as the highest-paid athlete in Siovanija & Teusland, and also its most famous both domestically and world-wide. He has been named the National Press's Sportsman of the Year 6 times during his career, and most recently was named in KarlingSport's Galacticos XI for cycle 75.

Kramer's best skills are considered to be his technical ability, his capability on the ball, and his ability to serve in both a playmaking midfield role or push forward as a 'shadow striker.'

Early life

Thorsten Kramer was born on the 4th of May, 2000, as the first and only child of Wilhelm and Maria Kramer. His father's side of the family had lived in Stelburg for generations, and both of his great-grandparents fought in the Great War. His mother's side were originally from the town of Stahlberg, and were distantly related to the House of Riefenstahl-Linsberg, who held several ducal titles in the Stahlberg area. Growing up, Thorsten and his father would regularly attend FC Teussen Stelburg matches, as the Kramer family had been season ticket holders for nearly as long as the club had existed. Thorsten quickly developed a passion for the game, playing regularly with friends and other relatives in the parks of Stelburg.

Kramer attended Sankt Joseph Primary School in Stelburg, and quickly became a star for the school's football team. At the age of 8, he had a tryout at the 1912 Stelburg academy, but was rejected. Kramer would later admit his heart was not fully in it on that day, 1912 being the hated rivals of his beloved Teussen. Over the next 2 years, however, Kramer would grow tremendously as a footballer, and led Sankt Joseph to back-to-back city championships. He was scouted by Teussen, and was offered a contract with the club's academy. Kramer eagerly accepted, and began training with the youth squads at the club.

Kramer was immediately recognized as an exceptional talent, with great skill on the ball. He had played up front for Sankt Joseph, but at Teussen he was first dropped to the number 10 role before eventually going deeper into midfield. It was here that he quickly rose to prominence in the academy, with talk of his ability circulating within national football circles. When Kramer was age 15, he was named by Score! magazine as the top under 18 player in the country. Kramer, alongside another Teussen youth product Mario Kogler, would lead Teussen's U18s to 2 straight Teus regional championships.

Club career

Breakthrough at FC Teussen Stelburg

In 2018, at the direction of the Ministry of Sport, the Siovanija & Teusland Football Association (STFA) were instructed to form a fully national league, instead of the previous regional system. FC Teussen Stelburg, naturally, were elected a part of the new Republikaliga, and were considered to be one of the favourites to be national champions. Prior to the start of that season, Kramer was invited to train with the senior squad in several training sessions. He greatly impressed manager Kasper Knauer, which led to him signing senior terms with the club and making his Republikaliga debut a few weeks later. Kramer's first Republikaliga goal came in his second game, a 4-2 win over SW Stahlberg. Kramer would score a total of 15 goals in his debut season, and despite finishing runner-up in Young Player of the Year voting, was named to the Republikaliga Best XI for the year. Teussen finished 1 point off the title, coming in second place behind league winners Energija Chernovets.

Champions and Challengers

Kramer's sophomore season at Teussen saw the club enter once again as favourites to win the league title, alongside their major rivals Olympia Borograd. Kramer was also considered a front-runner for the league's Golden Ball award. Both Teussen and Olympia put together excellent campaigns, with Kramer being a highlight of Teussen's season. He was dominant for the club in his role from midfield, serving as a creative playmaker as well as one who could occasionally get forward if needed. Teussen's National Derby showdowns with Olympia that year saw them defeat the capital club in both legs, 2-1 in Borograd and 3-2 in Stelburg. Kramer had both goals in the 2-1 win. The hard-fought title race ended up coming down to the final day as the two rivals entered the day tied. Olympia would manage only a draw with VfB Launitz, while Teussen would crush SV Preisfeld 5-1 to take home their first championship in the Republikaliga era. At the end of the year, Kramer was awarded the league Golden Ball - an MVP award voted on by the league's captains and managers - as well as once again appearing in the Best XI.

The next season began in excellent fashion for Kramer, now captain at the club - he scored a great free kick goal to lead Teussen past Pasargan side Tanrisal in a UICA Globe Cup qualifying match. Teussen's squad was a bit weaker, however, with the club losing centre forward Theodor Aberbach in the offseason and failing to adequately replace him, as well as a few players key in the title run losing a step with age. That, combined with an excellent Olympia Borograd side that would set a Republikaliga points record, meant that Teussen were bridesmaids in the league. Teussen would finish 2nd in the league, but 14 points off the pace set by Olympia. Teussen also made a run to the President's Cup final, but would lose 4-2 to SW Stahlberg. Kramer finished 2nd in Golden Ball voting, as well as being named again in the Best XI.

That offseason was a difficult one for Teussen, the club failing to acquire several targets while clubs around them in the league - including hated rivals 1912 Stelburg - strengthened. Teussen instead began a quick rebuild, with young players like Karl-Heinz Jager, and Kramer's former academy teammate Mario Kogler, making their debuts in the first team. While Kramer was again a key player for the side, it was a tough season for the club - a mix of old and new struggling to blend, and Teussen ended up finishing out of the UICA places in 6th. Kramer was again nominated for the Golden Ball, but did not win, and again was named in the league's Best XI.

Kramer scored 58 goals in 147 league appearances over 4 seasons with the club, winning 1 title in his time at Teussen. During ceremonies after the 5th year of the Republikaliga, Kramer was named the best midfielder in league history, and was named to the 5-year Best XI.

Moving to Cathair

In the summer of 2023, questions about Kramer's future began to circulate. With Teussen seemingly entering a new era, Kramer was also entering his prime. While Kramer was not openly transfer listed, there were for the first time rumblings he may leave Teussen. When Audioslav club 1830 Cathair were rumoured to be looking for a midfielder, Teussen gave Kramer and his agent permission to discuss terms with the club. The club and player were well-matched from the beginning, and Cathair made a 15 million tolar bid that was accepted by Teussen. For the first time in his life, Thorsten Kramer was moving away from Stelburg.

Kramer would later describe the move as the hardest decision of his life, but a rewarding one. At a farewell event at the Teussens-Arena, Kramer declared that Teussen are forever in his heart, and that he would eventually one day return to the club. After that, however, it was on a plane to northeastern Atlantian Oceania, and Audioslavia.

Kramer had to quickly accept a new role, on the bench now behind legendary international players such as the Vanorian Espy va Drake, and Farfadillis legend Fôrté Wínrôuge. Kramer took his chances, however, when he was called on, and 1830 Cathair headed towards a great season in the Audioslav National League, becoming champions of the league for the 11th time after a hard-fought title race with hated rivals AC Izotz Zubia. Having gotten his introduction to Audioslav football, and one of the top leagues in the world, Kramer was ready to take the next step.

Champion at Cathair

By the time of Kramer's second season in the NL, he had become a starter for Cathair, and a key part of their squad. It was another interesting year in the NL, and the title race starred the 3 Cathair clubs: 1830, Shamrock and Cazadores. For much of the year, it appeared as if the two 'other' Cathair sides were in the driver's seat. Shamrock took a 6-point lead in the league after a 1-0 win over Kramer's 1830, in a match that Kramer felt he could've won for his side: hitting the post late in addition to an earlier goal ruled out for offside. Kramer would get his redemption, however, later in the season, playing a great ball for the assist on a Shakira Handris goal that would give 1830 the win over Cazadores, and put them back into the title race. On the final day of the season, Kramer's 1830 would defeat Tout-Puissant Hasiera 4-0 while Shamrock and Cazadores drew 2-2 due to a late Cazadores goal from Mikhail Gerardo which handed 1830 the league title. 1830 Cathair were NL champions for a second straight season. More success was found in the IFCF Champions' League.

The inaugural edition of the new Champions' League tournament saw 1830 Cathair entered directly into the group stages as Audioslav champions, and the club found themselves drawn into Group C alongside Eura's Spartangrad, the Kionao Locals of Turori, as well as CF Outineau of Kelssek. Ironically, Outineau had knocked out FC Teussen Stelburg in the prior round, taking away the chance of an interesting matchup. Cathair would dominate the group, going 5-0-1, to advance to the Round of 16. In that round, they faced Eura's Directus, stunning the Eurans with a 2-0 win in the first leg in Eura. While Directus would win the second leg 3-2, Cathair advanced 4-3 on aggregate, where they would once again face Spartangrad. The first leg ended in a 2-2 draw, before Cathair won the home leg 1-0 to win the tie and advance to the semifinals. It was a matchup with Pasargan side Tanrisal there, and Cathair won both legs for a 3-0 aggregate victory, sending themselves to the Champions' League Final.

The Final would be played against Brenecia's Northern Stallions, who had beaten defending champions Sabrefell Moths in a 4-2 penalty shootout in the semifinal. The final itself would be played at the Moths' home stadium, the Farham Arena in Sabrefell. Although the match had been greatly hyped, in the end, it was something of a let-down, with almost nothing happening over the course of 90 minutes and extra time. The Stallions had put on a defensive masterclass, but it left them exhausted by the time of penalties. Cathair were able to take full advantage, winning the penalty shootout 4-2 to earn the IFCF Champions' League title. Kramer became the first player from Siovanija & Teusland to win the trophy, and played a key role in the win as a starter at the club. The match was massively hyped back home as well, becoming the 10th most-watched sports program of all time in Siovanija & Teusland, the entire country wanting to see their star a champion.

After that successful campaign, Kramer was named in KarlingSport's Galacticos Best XI, a lineup made up of some of the top players in world football. Kramer was named as a starting midfielder in the dream squad.

Cathair's Number 10

Heading into his third season at 1830 Cathair, there was new pressure on Kramer's shoulders. Several of the club's legendary players, including Faeron Soldarian, Hazel van Robben and Espy va Drake retired from football, and Kramer was thus handed the prestigious number 10 shirt at the club, full of new responsibility. The expectation for Kramer was to become the key part of Cathair's attack. The club's faith in Kramer was almost instantly rewarded in their second game of the season as he earned a goal and assist in a 5-1 victory over Calcio Sicurezza Elfi. The club continued to rely on Kramer throughout the season, as he scored twice in a 2-0 win over KT Ferramendiak. With many of the club's new signings struggling to gel together early in the season, the club's dream of winning a third straight National League title seemed to be fading. Kramer continued, however, to have a strong season, scoring the winning goal against KT Koroatuz, adding one in a 6-0 win over Tenth Star Hasiera. In a match Cathair needed to win against KT Itzalovalle, Kramer had the opener for the Teatimers, but it wasn't enough in a 2-1 loss, while the next week he'd score the winner in a derby match with Shamrock Cathair. With 1830 eliminated from the title race before the final day of the season, their Derby of Audioslavia clash with hated rivals AC Izotz Zubia would determine the final Champions' League qualification spot in the league. A late goal from Leona Rafford would give Cathair derby day bragging rights as they finished above their rivals again to qualify for the Champion's League. While the league campaign did not match the success of Kramer's first two seasons with the club, the promise for the future was evident.

Cathair were also the defending Champion's League winners, and as a result were automatically drawn in the group stage as they looked to win a second straight title. Unfortunately for the club, however, it was simply not to be as they were drawn into a very difficult group that saw Kramer and Cathair face off against fellow Siovanija & Teusland international Karl-Heinz Jager of Raynor City United. Other clubs in the group included Rene Skae and Eastal Lunar, and after a difficult campaign which saw the Teatimers win two games - each in away matches, as the side picked up only 1 point at home - they were eliminated from the competition. It was a disappointing exit for the club, but some success was still to come.

In the storied history of 1830 Cathair, the club had won almost every trophy it was possible to win. The one piece of silverware missing from their cabinet was the Audioslav domestic cup competition, the Kirola Cup. 1830 Cathair put on a strong performance in the early rounds of the Cup, knocking out Oljestaden IF in the first round before knocking out lower tier side Excelsior Zijweg on penalties in the second round. Kramer and Cathair would win again in the third round, 2-0 over Larenjeiras, before a dominant 4-0 victory over Bombarralense. Cathair's supporters were beginning to believe it was finally their year in the Cup, and with a 1-0 win over Necromarinai in the semifinal, they earned a chance to play for the trophy. Fellow National League side KT Moreazerua awaited them in the final, and a close-fought match was broken up only by a goal from Kramer himself in the second half, a long-range effort that saw 1830 Cathair finally capture the Kirola Cup title. In addition to a first domestic cup win for the club, it was also the first domestic cup win for Kramer, who had never won the President's Cup title during his FC Teussen Stelburg career. Fresh off of this success, Kramer and Cathair were looking forward to the future.

International Career

New Beginnings: World Cup 80

In 2018, the Siovanija & Teusland Football Association elected to begin international competition, and in taking its first step towards this entered into WCC competition, beginning with Baptism of Fire 67, held in Banija and Qasden. As one of the top young players in the country at the time, Kramer earned selection into this squad, and after impressing manager Apostol Manevski during the team's training camp, was chosen as part of the first national team squad in the opening match against The Cereal Isle. Kramer managed to get an assist on his country's first-ever goal, a ball over the top to Miroslav Dinev who scored. The next match, against Tzerrin, Kramer was able to show off his scoring touch, playing a one-two with Ivo Romanov before knocking in his first goal for his country. The Baptism of Fire tournament would see the Goldhorns reach the Quarterfinals before being eliminated by Baker Park.

As the Goldhorns entered World Cup 80, Kramer continued to be a core part of the squad throughout the qualification campaign. He would manage 1 goal in the course of the campaign, coming in the 6-2 loss to Chromatika, but continued to shine and played a key role in the 4-2 win over Mriin, and was named by the Stelburger Zeitung as one of the top Goldhorns players of the cycle. Recognition continued for Kramer, and he was named by the hosting committee as part of the World Cup 80 Team of the Qualifiers.

The Goldhorns would then go on to play in Cup of Harmony 72, in Vilita, but struggled in the tournament and suffered what still stands as the national team's biggest defeat, a 6-1 loss to Kita-Hinode. Kramer did score the only goal in that one, but the Goldhorns were eliminated from the competition in the group stage. AOCAF 56 was a much better showing for Kramer and the national team, as they managed to qualify from their group despite a 4-0 loss to Cosumar on the opening day. Kramer had the key winning goal in a 4-2 win over Qasden that sent the Goldhorns through, but they would lose in the Round of 16 in extra time against Mriin.

Continued Campaigns: World Cup 81 and 82

World Cup 81 saw the Goldhorns and Kramer return to action, and with a bit more experience under his belt Kramer played a key role in the campaign. He had a total of 4 goals throughout the campaign, including two key goals in a clash with the Alpine Union that the Goldhorns would win 5-2. It was disappointment in the end, however, as the Goldhorns struggled after a great run to begin qualifying: 4 wins from 5 to start the campaign, but only 5 wins total in the remaining 13 matches. Again, the Goldhorns were headed to the Cup of Harmony, and Kramer was going with them.

Cup of Harmony 73, however, was a disappointment and spelled the end of manager Alan Dzekov's reign over the national team. Kramer would score his only goal of the tournament on matchday 1 in a 1-1 draw with Adab, but a loss to Savojarna followed by another draw against Karulijca meant that the Goldhorns failed to advance from the group stage for the second time in a row. Rumours of discontent between some of the leaders of the squad, including Ivo Romanov, Viktor Dimitrov and Raphael Klopfer, with the manager led to Dzekov being removed from his position as manager after the tournament.

A new era began under the former Apox manager Gavin Hughes, who pledged that Kramer would have a key role to play in his side. A new-look Goldhorn team came to play at AOCAF 57 in Mriin, led by younger players such as Kramer and Michael Ribbeck. The two would strike up a great chemistry on and off the field almost immediately, and Ribbeck scored in all 3 group stage games as the Goldhorns advanced to the Round of 16. There, they would play Vilita & Turori, defending AOCAF champions and, in Vilita's case, defending World Cup winners. The Goldhorns were huge underdogs for the match, but on a rainy night at Wyvernscrest, there was just something about the Goldhorns that enabled them to fight. And fight they did, going back and forth with Vilita & Turori all match long. Kramer managed an assist on Krasimir Kynev's goal to put the Goldhorns up 4-3, and eventually would play a big part in the buildup for Michael Ribbeck's stoppage-time winner that sent the Goldhorns through to the Quarterfinal. 'Das Wunder von Northbrush,' as declared by the press in Siovanija & Teusland, quickly became the biggest moment in the history of the national team and raised the profile of Kramer and his teammates even further back home. In the Quarterfinal, the Goldhorns fought hard but fell to neighbours and 5-time World Cup winners Valanora.

It was on to World Cup 82 qualification after that one, and the Goldhorns, despite being tipped for bigger things after the AOCAF performance, struggled again. They lacked a scoring touch in some matches, even with Michael Ribbeck's goalscoring exploits (9 goals). Kramer himself would manage 2 goals in the campaign, including an important goal in a 3-0 win over Ko-oren. Four scoreless draws, however, would kill any chance the Goldhorns had of qualifying for the World Cup tournament, and it was once again back to the Cup of Harmony.

Cup of Harmony 74, however, was a disaster for the Goldhorns, who continued to struggle in the tournament: losses to Kita-Hinode and Velestria on the first two matchdays eliminated them from the competition, before they came away with a meaningless 1-0 win over Zwangzug on the final matchday thanks to a Krasimir Kynev goal. Disappointed in the performance, the Goldhorns knew they needed to rebound at the AOCAF.

AOCAF 58 was held in Southwestern Atlantian Oceania neighbours Banija, which marked a return for the Goldhorns to that country for the first time since the Baptism of Fire. Kramer and the team would get off to a great start, managing an exciting 4-4 draw with another subregional neighbour Valanora on the opening day. Kramer scored Siovanija & Teusland's opener in that match, and also had 3 assists in the 5-1 win over Sticiano. A 2-1 win on the final matchday against Euran Oceanian Territories meant that the Goldhorns had managed to win the group, and advanced to the Round of 16. They met the Sultanate of Oontaz, and came out on top in a hard-fought 3-2 win which saw Kramer's youth teammate at Teussen, Mario Kogler, get the winning goal. The Goldhorns' dreams were shattered, however, in the Quarterfinal, as they were crushed 6-2 by Cosumar. Kramer did manage a goal in that game, but it was nowhere near enough, and the Goldhorns were left shocked at their heavy defeat.

Chasing the Dream: World Cup 83

The World Cup 83 campaign saw an invigorated Goldhorns side trying to make history and reach the World Cup Finals for the first time. Kramer, fresh off his move to 1830 Cathair, was now vice-captain of the squad, and considered undroppable in the #8 role in midfield. In a difficult qualifying campaign, Kramer managed to score 4 goals, including a key second half goal against Quakmybush that helped the Goldhorns come back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 and send themselves to the Playoff stage at the World Cup. Drawn into a group with Recuecn, Abanhfleft and 95X, the Goldhorns had been hoping to pull off the underdog upset and make their way to the dream stage of the World Cup. However, it was Recuecn instead who would pull off the underdog story: they defeated the Goldhorns 3-2 on the opening matchday before securing their place at the World Cup. Siovanija & Teusland did defeat 95X on the second matchday, but a loss to Abanhfleft on matchday 3 cursed the Goldhorns to the Cup of Harmony again.

Having historically struggled at the tournament, it was hoped Kramer and the Goldhorns could turn things around this time and make a run in the tournament at Cup of Harmony 75. Things looked promising early on, as the team defeated Eraman and Flavovespia to start the tournament with 2 wins. The Goldhorns would not, however, win another game in the tournament: falling 4-1 to Main Nation Ministry, before a 3-2 loss against Brusseldorf which saw Kramer score his only goal of the cup. In the Round of 16, the Goldhorns were sent home by tournament #1 seed Saltstead in extra time.

The struggles continued for the Goldhorns at the AOCAF tournament, which this time was played with a home-and-away round robin group stage. The national team struggled to adapt to both the format, and to break out of their rough patch of form that had really began with the Playoff defeat: the Goldhorns went 4-0-6 in the group stage, Kramer managing 3 goals in the campaign, and just snuck into the Round of 16 as the sixteenth seed, where they would again face Vilita & Turori. Once again heavy underdogs, once again the Goldhorns would pull through: a 2-1 win to knock out the Eel Cat Things again, and to restore optimism in the team. Though the Quarterfinal, against Valanora, would end in a heartbreaking penalty loss despite Kramer scoring in a 3-3 match, the exceptional effort of the Goldhorns in that match renewed confidence for the upcoming World Cup.

The World Stage: World Cup 84

Inspired by their rebound performances at AOCAF 59, the Goldhorns headed into World Cup 84 with a new optimism and confidence around the squad. There was also some tactical change: manager Gavin Hughes trying out a new 4-3-3 formation that saw Kramer as a massive part of a midfield triangle involving himself, Viktor Dimitrov and young star Todor Mihailov. This change enabled Kramer to get further forward when necessary, and show off some of the 'second striker' role he'd played in at Teussen. Kramer would score 7 goals in the Qualifiers, including a massive goal in the Goldhorns' 4-1 win over The Macabees that had huge implications for qualification. Kramer would also score in both legs against group top seed Nephara, and despite the Goldhorns losing both of those matches, gave a great account of himself. Managing 41 points in the group stage, Siovanija & Teusland were heading to Baker Park for their first-ever World Cup Finals appearance.

The draw for the finals was a difficult one for the Goldhorns, seeing them face off against Rushmori powers Sargossa, the always-tricky Vilita, and Kramer's adopted home of Audioslavia. Kramer was named to the STFA's 23-man squad for World Cup 84, and was also named vice-captain for the tournament. The opening match saw Siovanija & Teusland begin the World Cup against Sargossa, and Kramer played a huge role in that one. He ran the midfield all game, never giving the opposition any quarter, and almost all inquisitive attacking movement from the Goldhorns ran through him. Late in the match, Kramer would spring his friend Mario Kogler with a pass, Kogler then found Michael Ribbeck who knocked it in to score Siovanija & Teusland's first-ever World Cup goal, and secured the first-ever World Cup win for the country.

The second match against Vilita would not go in the Goldhorns' favour, as they fell 2-0 to the eventual World Cup runners-up. On the final matchday, Kramer and the Goldhorns faced Audioslavia, with the Goldhorns needing a win to advance to the Round of 16. It was a tight contest, each side going back and forth for the full 90 minutes. Michael Ribbeck gave the Goldhorns a 1-0 lead in the first half, but Audioslavia would even things up just before halftime. The Bulls would take the lead midway through the second half, before Kramer scored an equalizing goal. The Goldhorns pushed forward desperately in the late stages, trying to come up with the 1 goal needed, but could not find it and were eliminated from the World Cup. Despite the elimination, Kramer and the squad were happy with their performance, noting they had done very well in quite a difficult group, and were looking forward to their next opportunity.

That opportunity would come for Kramer and the Goldhorns at AOCAF 60. A tournament the national team has traditionally done well in, the Goldhorns were handed a group that looked to be quite tricky. On matchday 1, the Goldhorns would stumble out of the gate to a 2-0 loss against debutants Muradil punctuated by an injury to star forward Michael Ribbeck. The Goldhorns needed to recover quickly from that defeat, and with Kramer deployed in a more attacking role against Demot, he was able to score twice to lead the team to a 3-0 win. Kramer would also score a brace in a 5-3 win over Hapilopper, before playing a key part in the buildup to Michael Ribbeck's winner against Baker Park that saw the Goldhorns win their group despite the early hiccup. Subregional neighbours Banija were the opponent in the Round of 16, and it was Kramer linking up with close friend Mario Kogler late to score what would eventually be the winning goal. Siovanija & Teusland would fall in the Quarterfinal round again, however, in a 120 minute loss to eventual champions Ko-oren. With 5 goals, Kramer finished as the national team's leading scorer in the tournament, embracing his new attacking role ahead of World Cup 85's Qualifiers.

Personal life

Kramer was born at Stelburg General Hospital on May 4, 2000. He grew up living with his parents in the west Stelburg neighbourhood of Steglitz. The family were great fans of FC Teussen Stelburg, and from the age of 3 Kramer regularly attended matches with his father. As a child, Kramer's footballing idol was Theodor Aberbach, who he would eventually play with for Teussen and the national team, winning a league title together.

Kramer attended Sankt Joseph Primary School, located in Steglitz, for his elementary school, and played on the school football team which won 2 city championships with Kramer in the squad. Soon after, he joined the Teussen academy, and, upon graduation from Sankt Joseph, attended Stelburg-Zentrum High School. At Stelburg-Zentrum, Kramer was considered to be a great student by his teachers, managing to balance homework with the demands of his football career. Also in high school, he met Elsa Schuster, who he would begin a relationship with. Kramer graduated from Stelburg-Zentrum the same year he made his debut in the FC Teussen Stelburg team, and had taken some online courses in business at TU Stelburg during his career with Teussen.

Kramer is known for having a close friendship with fellow FC Teussen Stelburg youth academy graduate Mario Kogler. The two attended high school together, and played in the same Teussen youth teams, winning 2 Teus regional championships. In Kramer's final season at Teussen, Kogler was beginning to break into the senior squad, having made a few appearances off the bench in earlier seasons. Kramer and Kogler are also teammates with the Siovanija & Teusland national team. Others known to have a close relationship with Kramer are national team forward Michael Ribbeck and national team centre-back, and fellow Teussen academy product Karl-Heinz Jager.

Kramer is also known for having a close relationship with his family, especially his parents Wilhelm and Maria. Despite signing a contract which made him one of the richest footballers in the country at 18, he continued to live in his parents' home, and did so for the duration of his career with FC Teussen Stelburg. Kramer now has an estate located on the Blausee about 15 minutes north of Stelburg, but in the summer can still be regularly seen in his old neighbourhood of Steglitz. For most of his career, his father Wilhelm has served as his agent, Wilhelm himself being a lawyer for TeusBank.

Kramer began a relationship with Elsa Schuster during his time in high school. Schuster reportedly did not know Kramer was one of the top prospects in football until mentioning the relationship to her father, a Teussen supporter. The two continued to date during Kramer's career at Teussen, as Schuster attended Universitat-Stelburg for a degree in business. Kramer's move to Audioslavia in 2023 coincided with her graduation, and Schuster moved with Kramer to Cathair. On October 21, 2026, the pair announced their engagement, with a wedding date set for the next summer. The date of the wedding, however, ended up being moved after 1830 Cathair reached the Champions' League Final and Siovanija & Teusland qualified for the World Cup. Eventually, the pair would get married on August 9, 2027, with a ceremony at Sankt Frederik Basilica in Stelburg, followed by a reception at Kramer's estate. Mario Kogler served as best man in the wedding party, with Michael Ribbeck and Karl-Heinz Jager amongst the groomsmen. The Kramers reside in Cathair during the football season, and the Blausee estate during the summer.

Kramer was raised in the Catholic Church, and his marriage took place in Stelburg's largest Catholic basilica. Kramer is a lifelong supporter of FC Teussen Stelburg of the Republikaliga, as well as the Stelburg Kaisers of the national ice hockey league, the Ehrenliga. During his career at Teussen, Kramer could be regularly seen in the stands at Kaisers games, and regularly sent his support to the national hockey team on social media. Kramer played some minor hockey in his youth, but his passion was always in football.

Kramer has been a major contributor to several charity initiatives within Siovanija & Teusland. He is listed as one of the largest single donors of the Teusland Children's Hospital in Stelburg, and regularly made visits to the hospital during his time with Teussen. Guests to his wedding were instructed to donate to the hospital in lieu of a gift. Kramer also has helped fund several programs for young footballers in Stelburg, including a 'Kramer's Kids' summer camp.

Kramer has consistently earned the respect of his peers as a great personality on and off the field. National teammate Michael Ribbeck called him the best player Siovanija & Teusland has produced, while former national team manager Apostol Manevski claimed he was the smartest footballer he had ever coached. Due to his stature within the game and the national team, his name was circulated as a possible captain of his country after the retirement of Miroslav Dinev. Kramer, however, supported teammate Raphael Klopfer for the position. Still, Kramer was named vice-captain, and is expected to take over as full-time captain after Klopfer's retirement.

Honours and Achievements

FC Teussen Stelburg

• Republikaliga: Season 2

1830 Cathair

• National League: Season 9, 10
• IFCF Champions' League: Cycle 1 (74th overall)
• Kirola Cup: Season 11

Individual

• Republikaliga Golden Ball: Season 2
• Republikaliga Best XI: Season 1, 2, 3, 4
• Republikaliga 5th Anniversary XI
• Republikaliga 5th Anniversary Best Midfielder
• National Press Sportsman of the Year: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2026, 2027
• Stelburger Zeitung Top Teus Athlete: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027
• KarlingSport Galacticos Index: Longlist, cycle 75
• KarlingSport Galacticos Index: Best XI/Shortlist, cycle 75
• World Cup 80 Team of the Qualifiers

Notes

1. All match desciptions and statistics taken from Siovanija & Teusland's RPs and newswire (life/Teussen seasons), Audioslavia's newswire (seasons at Cathair), and Brenecia's newswire (Champions' League Final).