During the winter preparations, Mainz manager Thomas Tuchel praised the Macedonian international for his consistency, reliability and being a consummate professional.

Nikolche Noveski is approaching his 35th birthday this upcoming April, but you wouldn’t know it based on his play with Mainz over the past couple of seasons.  During the winter preparations, the Mainz manager, Thomas Tuchel, talked with the club’s official website and praised Noveski’s professionalism, leadership and performance.

Tuchel said the following when speaking about Noveski, “Nikolche can play for as long as he wants.  He is a model of reliability, a top top pro.  He comes to work every day with such a good attitude on the pitch, I am lucky to have such a player.  If something goes so well over five years, as it has for us, then you need those types of players on the team.”

Since 2004, which is the year that Noveski joined Mainz, he has made a total of 291 league appearances out of a possible 323 matches for the German team.  That includes all 17 league games in this current campaign which marks his 10th season in a Mainz uniform.  Noveski is known as an uncompromising defender with a no nonsense attitude when it comes to marking opposing players.  What he lacks in speed, he makes up in positioning and smarts.

His contract expires at the conclusion of this season, but Mainz is fully expected to offer him an extension.  When asked to comment on his contract situation, Noveski said, “I don’t even think about that at the moment.  I only concentrate on my performance.  I want to enjoy the games, have fun and experience success.  I feel very well, even from a fitness standpoint.  I don’t see any problems that might indicate that I couldn’t play at this level in the future.”

Noveski became the captain of Mainz under Tuchel, and he is also expected to be named captain of Macedonia by new manager Boshko Gjurovski following the retirement of Goran Pandev.  To this point, Nikolche has won 64 caps for Macedonia, scoring 5 goals in the process.