Simon Terodde quits: The record goalscorer says goodbye with a plea for his species

Sport Simon Terodde quits

The record goalscorer says goodbye with a plea for his species

As of: 3:49 p.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes

The 9 should live on, but Simon Terodde is ending his successful career

Source: dpa/Christian Charisius

Simon Terodde is the record goalscorer in the second division with 177 goals. Now the 36-year-old has announced the end of his career. There will be a farewell on Saturday. He gives squad planners, coaches and sports directors important advice for the future.

Simon Terodde is giving up his job as a professional footballer at the end of the season, and no one will take away his record as second division record scorer any time soon: The 36-year-old announced on Thursday that he would end his career after this season. “After 16 years in professional football, it’s over now!” said Terodde via Instagram. He had previously informed his teammates at FC Schalke 04 about the decision. The captain of the Royal Blues will be given a fitting farewell at the home game against Hansa Rostock on Saturday.

At the end of his career, Terodde wrote: “I’ve always been afraid of this day for the last few years, I’ll be completely honest.” He was able to turn his hobby into a career and loved playing in front of sold-out houses. “The way the ball hits the goal, seeing the net fidget, the ecstasy in the corners, these are all things that I will miss incredibly.” But Terodde also explained: “Promotions, relegations, staying in the league – every season is emotionally at the limit Playing has also left its mark on me and that’s why I can leave the football field as an active player with a clear conscience.” It is now the right moment to make space for younger people.

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Terodde used the announcement of his departure to make a fiery plea regarding his species. Addressed to those responsible for sport in football, he recommended: “General advice to all coaches, squad planners or sports directors – the center forward (9s) is incredibly important, makes teammates better, decides games! You must care for it and cherish it.”

Terodde wants to stay in football

The center forward scored 177 goals in 310 games in the 2nd Bundesliga. Terodde leads the ranking of second division goalscorers ahead of Dieter Schatzschneider (153 goals). Even after that, no one followed for a long time who could soon take Terodde’s record. In the Bundesliga he played 90 games in which he scored 15 goals.

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Terodde, who was born in Bocholt, began his career at MSV Duisburg. Before his time at Schalke, he also played for Fortuna Düsseldorf, 1. FC Köln, 1. FC Union Berlin, VfL Bochum, VfB Stuttgart and Hamburger SV. He has played 27 games for Schalke so far this season and scored five times.

Terodde has not yet revealed what will happen after his career as a professional. He wrote that he looks forward to sharing his experiences soon. “We’ll see in what role, first I have to let everything sink in and I’m looking forward to spending time with the family!” Schalke announced that the door for Terodde at Gelsenkirchen was still open.

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Return to professional football

The leading player thanked his previous employers and wrote: “The last stations at VfB, Effzeh, HSV and Schalke were particularly special, where I was allowed to wear the legendary number “9”. I never took that for granted in such traditional clubs.”