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Simon Terodde: I will hold that in my heart
Terodde suggests that he was a little nervous in the morning. “When we were travelling to the stadium in the bus a few things were running through my mind,” said Simon Terodde describing his feelings ahead of his final home game at the VELTINS-Arena on Saturday (11/5) against Hansa Rostock. “Then when the clips were shown on the video screen before the game and the fans started chanting – that doesn’t leave you cold. It was very emotional today.”
The 36-year-old, who had announced on Thursday (9/5) that he will hang up his boots at the end of the season, hadn’t lost any of his desire, as seen in his final words during his official send-off on the pitch ahead of the game. “The most important thing for me today is that we get the three points together once again!” Terodde was corresponding pleased after the full time whistle. “It was nice for me to round it all off today with a home win. The moments at the end in front of the Kurve were sensational – a good end.”
The attacker might even have scored during the 2-1 with against Rostock. As Paul Seguin hit a ball towards goal shortly before half time which ended up in the back of the net, many in the crowd would have suggested that it go down as Terodde’s goal due to a supposed touch on the ball. The 2. Bundesliga’s all-time record goalscorer wasn’t having any of this discussion. “It is Paul’s goal, we’re not going to talk about that now.” In the second half he was also denied by a strong save from Markus Kolke. “The goalkeeper stopped it well. I would have obviously like to have scored, but it was much more important that we won the game.”
I am proud to have been able to end my career at a club like this and as captain. This is how I dreamed it would be.
Terodde has demonstrated that he is a team player over the last few weeks in particular. His decision to retire has been a long time coming, but the team’s success has always been at the front of his mind. “I absolutely wanted to stay up. Everything else took a back seat. It also wasn’t important to me if and where I played on the pitch. We have stabilised as a side in the last few weeks and are now seven games unbeaten.”
The centre-forward joined the ‘Knappen’ in 2021 and played a key role in their return back to the Bundesliga, scoring 30 goals as the division’s top-scorer. Terodde took over the captaincy this season. He will always have fond memories of his three years with the Royal Blues. “I am proud to have been able to end my career at a club like this and as captain. This is how I dreamed it would be. The people are built a little bit differently in the Ruhr: The more difficult the situation, the more that people stick together. I will hold that in my heart.”
Time with the family – and to watch football
“I am healthy and fit and wanted to find the right moment. I can now finish off this chapter and am looking forward to the time after this with my family.” He has not yet decided what he is going to do next, only that: “I am football mad and will definitely visit lots of different stadiums.” The VELTINS-Arena will definitely be among the most common of these.
