He advanced to their first team for their 1985–86 season and signed his first professional contract under manager Ernst-August Künnecke.
hiː ɐdvˈænst tə ðɛɹ fˈɜːst tˈiːm fɔːɹ ðɛɹ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈaɪv ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks sˈiːzən ænd sˈaɪnd hɪz fˈɜːst pɹəfˈɛʃənəl kˈɑːntɹækt ˌʌndɚ mˈænɪdʒɚɹ ˈɜːnstˈɔːɡəst kˈuːnɛk.