Joël Mall is competing for the championship title with Servette. The versatile Aargau native is the Cyprus national goalkeeper.

Joël Mall once said: "The stupidest invention in football is VAR." Another time he said: "It's difficult to draw a conclusion after this game. That's something TV expert Beni Huggel can do in the studio, watching the match on the couch with a coffee and a notepad."

Servette goalkeeper Mall is one of the Super League players who spends the most time in front of the TV camera after matches in German-speaking Switzerland. This is due to the fact that there are hardly any other footballers in the Geneva team's squad who speak German. And above all, because Mall speaks authentically and isn't someone who uses clichés. His communicative skills were also recently demonstrated when he appeared on SRF's "Sportpanorama."

The 34-year-old stands out, and not just because, at almost two meters tall, he's one of the tallest players in the history of the Swiss football league. He says he can't help but speak directly and openly. "Even if I sometimes think it might have been better not to say something."

Joël Mall doesn't fit the stereotype of the superficial footballer. And when he says he rarely finds more than one or two teammates in a locker room with whom he's completely on the same wavelength outside of football, he doesn't mean it disparagingly. He says: "I've learned to accept that for many people, I'm not the typical footballer. But I get along very well with all of my teammates. And I think I can give a lot to a team with my positive attitude."

Mall's career had an extraordinary trajectory: After his breakthrough at his beloved club, FC Aarau, he moved to GC. Lacking patience there, he joined Bundesliga relegated Darmstadt, failed to make it, and moved to Cyprus in 2018 to join a club called Paphos FC. Four years later, he was unemployed, applying to banks and insurance companies in Switzerland, searching unsuccessfully for a new club for a while, and finally signed for another year in Cyprus, where he was under contract with four clubs in total.

Mall was twice named the best goalkeeper in the Cypriot league, and after his naturalization, he even became a Cyprus international. Mall has now made 15 appearances for his country, most recently in March.

Mall's list of educational backgrounds underscores his multifaceted personality. After graduating from high school, he studied economics, sports marketing, and management. He later obtained a certificate in football management from the European Football Association (UEFA), trained as a mental coach, works as a goalkeeping coach for FC Meyrin's U15 team, and has explored topics such as the stock market and cryptocurrencies. "I need this as a balance for my head and mind," says Mall.

In several podcasts, he has spoken so entertainingly about himself, his career, and the football business that one wonders why he doesn't host his own show. "My interests help me cope better with the madness, pressure, and adrenaline of football," he says.

Given Mall's spectacular biography and public demeanor, one might suspect a fidgety person. Yet Mall is relaxed; in a conversation at the Stade de Genève, he speaks almost quietly and says he was an introvert as a boy.

And he believes that all the decisions in his career, even those that seemed wrong at first glance, have had their positive aspects. He met his wife in Darmstadt, with whom he has two children; today she works as a teacher at the German school in Geneva. And he and his family enjoyed Cyprus very much, despite some of its unusual structures.

However, the "unspeakable" video evidence still annoys Mall immensely, even though he recently benefited from it. In Servette's 2-1 home win against Lucerne, FCL's late equalizer was surprisingly disallowed after VAR intervention, after Mall dropped the ball well outside the six-yard box and was lightly touched by an opponent.

Afterward, he said he was aware that not many referees had made that decision. And he called the Lucerne players "sore losers" for arguing with him in the catacombs instead of with the referee.

Mall is hardly the best and certainly not the most modern goalkeeper in the Super League. The former Swiss youth international's moves sometimes appear clumsy, partly due to his size. But thanks to his calmness, routine, and strong reflexes, he is a stabilizer at Servette FC. His coach, Thomas Häberli, says that Mall, with his energy, is a dream for him as a coach.

For someone who had almost ended his career three years ago, Mall's development has been extraordinary. In 2023, he moved to Servette, initially as the number 2 behind captain and iconic figure Jérémy Frick. Unforgettable is how penalty-taking specialist Mall came on as a substitute in the 119th minute of the Cup final against Lugano a year ago, made an outstanding save in the 120th minute with the score at 0-0, and became a hero in the penalty shootout, saving attempts by Swiss internationals Renato Steffen and Albian Hajdari.

This season, Mall isn't Servette's undisputed number 1 either, with rival Frick recently out injured. And now, second-placed Servette faces leaders FC Basel away on Sunday to kick off the Championship Round – with a win, the underdog could make the championship race exciting again. "We were first a few weeks ago," says Mall. "Of course, you think about what might happen."

This statement also applies to the time after his career as a goalkeeper. Joël Mall, whose father Uwe was one of Switzerland's best handball players, has moved 14 times in his life. He describes himself as a "nomad" and almost moved to Australia a few years ago because he appreciates bold challenges and other cultures. However, he did buy a house back home in Aarau. He seems mature and reflective – yet surprisingly willing to make decisions based on his gut feeling. After his time as a goalie, which is expected to last a few more years, many doors should be open to Mall.

The clever communicator would certainly also cut an excellent figure in the role of TV expert.