Gekas joined VfL Bochum from Greek top club Panathinaikos Athen last summer, and just a few experts in Germany knew him back then.

By now all German football fans know him. The striker has already scored 17 goals and tops the Bundesliga goal-scoring charts.

bundesliga.de: What are the differences between the Bundesliga and the Greek top flight?

Theofanis Gekas: The Bundesliga is faster and you have less space, and tactics are more important on the pitch and in training. Additionally the stadiums in Germany are just great and the fans are enthusiastic and peaceful.

bundesliga.de: Did you talk with Greek national coach Otto Rehhagel about the Bundesliga before you joined Bochum? Did he give you tips?

Gekas: He recommended VfL Bochum as a reputable and well-working club.

bundesliga.de: How did you settle down in Bochum, and what about speaking German?

Gekas: The club and everyone at VfL made it very easy for me and have been very helpful to my wife Vasso and me. People are very open and honest in Bochum, that helped a lot.

bundesliga.de: Who proved to be most helpful in settling down?

Gekas: I have a former professional by my side in Christos Orkas, who translated the coach's instructions and looked after us a lot on top of that. Stefan Kuntz made a lot of effort, even before the transfer, and he was always available as contact person.

bundesliga.de: Looking at your goalscoring record, the switch doesn't seem to have bothered you...

Gekas: I would have never thought that the switch would be so easy for me, but it works well at the moment. I can help to keep VfL in the Bundesliga with my goals.

bundesliga.de: What would it mean for you to win the "Goal-getter cannon" at the end of the season? You've already managed to do so in Greece once!

Gekas: That would be a great honour, of course, but it's only of secondary importance. As a team we want to beat the drop and that's what we're working for with all our might.

bundesliga.de: You've scored 17 goals, nearly half of the club's tally. Is the pressure attached to that a burden sometimes ?

Gekas: I'm just doing my job and I'm glad about my team-mates' help. I wouldn't play successful without the team's performance.

bundesliga.de: You've decided the Ruhr Derby against Borussia Dortmund with a brace. Did you notice that these goals had a special meaning for the fans and the club?

Gekas: Derbies against Dortmund and Schalke are especially important in Bochum. You notice that immediately once you arrive here, and more than ever on the pitch.

bundesliga.de: What's head coach Marcel Koller's part in your dreamlike season?

Gekas: Marcel Koller is a very good coach who works hard with us and sets us up perfectly for our opponents. His training is diversified and you take something with you from every session. Additionally he almost fully absorbs the pressure from the media and the surroundings. You can work calmly here.

bundesliga.de: How do you see VfL's chances of staying in the Bundesliga?

Gekas: We will stay up because we have the quality and keep calm.

bundesliga.de: Are you in touch with other Greeks in the Bundesliga?

Gekas: I'm regularly in touch with a few compatriots. We're on the phone, meet when we play against each other or when we meet up with the national team.

bundesliga.de: Is it true that you nearly chose to become a wrestler?

Gekas: Yes, I practised both sports in the past and I nearly chose wrestling. But nowadays I'm really glad that I chose football.

bundesliga.de: What tipped the balance towards football in the end?

Gekas: I don't remember exactly. Football suits me best. I'm really comfortably on the pitch and more probably I'm a team player.

bundesliga.de: Do you go mainly in Greek restaurants or did you discover the German cuisine already?

Gekas: I've already tried German cuisine and got to know some very tasty dishes. Bochum is a very good town to go out for a meal: Greek, German and other international cuisines.

Interview: Christof Greiner