Niko Bretschneider

Berlin runs through Niko Bretschneider's whole route into the professional game. He came up through Hertha BSC's academy before moves to Tennis Borussia Berlin and Hertha Zehlendorf took him to his senior debut in the 2017–18 NOFV-Oberliga Nord, a single appearance that opened the door to two seasons with Hertha BSC II.

The move to MSV Duisburg in July 2020 turned into his most productive spell. After a limited first season, he became a regular in 2021–22, playing 27 league matches. The stand-out moment came on 18 September 2021, when he scored from long range against Eintracht Braunschweig in a 3:2 win — a goal celebrated in match reports as a "Traumtor" even though it did not take the ARD Sportschau "Tor des Monats" prize for that month.

Bretschneider then took his career abroad, joining Latvian side FK Auda on a free transfer in June 2022, where he was a fixture over two seasons before returning to German football with Energie Cottbus in January 2024. There, he worked his way from the Regionalliga Nordost into the 3. Liga, making 33 appearances in 2024–25 and totalling 52 competitive games for the club.

On 1 July 2025 he signed for 1. FC Saarbrücken on a free transfer, with his contract reportedly running to 2027. He marked his arrival with a goal in a friendly against Union Titus Petange before making his first league appearances for the club.