Following relegation issues, Bochum's cult figure retires from football.

Following demotion drama: Bochum's renowned player retires.

VfL Bochum manages to stay in the top league, with Andreas Luthe being a key player in the relegation playoff. However, he won't be continuing in the fourth season of the Bundesliga as he's retiring from professional football.

The most cheesy goodbye moment was denied to Andreas Luthe. He couldn't stop the decisive penalty kick that would have kept VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga, allowing Takashi Uchino from Duesseldorf to shoot the ball over his goal. But in that moment, it was insignificant for Luthe. He had leapt into the wrong corner, with no chance of reaching the ball. His last leap as a professional goalkeeper. With this match, with the confirmed class maintenance in the relegation, ends the career of the goalkeeper who played for VfL from 2001 to 2016, then left, and only returned last winter.

"That was my last game in professional football, as you see it, that's nothing else for my heart," he said on the microphone of Sat.1: "Now is the right time to stop - at my club." Until a week ago, nothing indicated that Luthe would become a featured player again. Rather, his career appeared to be ending. But then, after the 34th matchday defeat against Werder Bremen, the situation at the club changed. Starter goalkeeper Manuel Riemann was removed from the squad for the duels. There had been disputes. A conversation was to follow.

"But I also had my doubts," Luthe later admitted. "The first game was tough, it was a rough loss, where we had a really bad day. After a few days, you noticed again that there's someone who pulls someone else out of the hole. That's great, that's team sport."

Wittek celebrates in Riemann's jersey

Luthe appeared awkward in the first leg - despite several good saves. He allowed a late free kick to enter the goal, which Yannick Engelhardt converted for a 3-0 lead for Duesseldorf. In Bochum, the lights went out. The debt to return for the second leg seemed enormous, impassable. "That doesn't matter. The Andi kept a clean sheet - no matter how. That was the goal today." said defense master Keven Schlotterbeck. The team rallied, played itself into a frenzy at times, practically decided the duel in the 90 minutes. And they had to sit on the bench, because the best opportunities weren't used.

Did he really think they'd maintain their class, Luthe was asked later: "I'm probably crazy, but I did think so," he admitted. "The first game was hard, it was a tough loss, where we had a really bad day. After a few days, you noticed again that there's someone who pulls someone else out of the hole. That's great, that's team sport."

Wittek celebrates in Riemann's jersey

In the end, it was the team that made the difference. The fans celebrated with a banner saying "Thank you, Luthe" and a player from the opposing team, Jannik Wittek, wore Luthe's jersey in the locker room after the match. "I'm very happy that I could help the team," said Luthe. "I'm glad that I could contribute to our position in the league. I'm very happy that I could be part of this team again."

Luthe played a part in the second half. Unlike Riemann, he can't speed up the game for his team. However, he maintained an incredible calmness. He was always there at the corners, the most dangerous moments for Fortuna, and skillfully blocked the crosses. He also inspired. Something that Riemann had been lacking lately. He was a cranky old man. This hadn't been beneficial to his teammates. With Riemann, Luthe had talked before the game: "I spoke with him on the phone. Manu is an important part of us and has ensured that we've been in a good position for a long time to maintain our place. He's always been a VfLer - in his own way, with a lot of emotion. That's how you have to take him, the way he is sometimes. We couldn't tell each other apart. In the combination, you can see that we both managed to keep us in the league. So it's team sport. One is not there, the other takes over. It's that simple."

Luthe's career spanned 15 years, with 323 games for VfL Bochum. He played for the club from 2001 to 2016, then left, and only returned last winter. "I'm very happy that I could be part of this team again," he said. "I'm glad that I could contribute to our place in the league. I'm really happy that I could be part of this team again."

Riemann was still part of the scene even though he wasn't physically there. Forward Philipp Hofmann and tireless midfielder Maximilian Wittek celebrated in the number one jersey. In a secret room, Wittek said, "Manu is still ours, even though he's shown us what an amazing goalkeeper he is all season. No matter what has happened, he'll always be part of the team."

Prior to the penalty shootout, Luthe received a thunderous ovation from his own supporters. He responded immediately, saving Andre Hoffmann's first shot. It was his only save, but it was crucial. It put Bochum ahead. Kastenmeier equalized it, but he only did so by powerfully redirecting Erhan Masovic's shot. But Bochum's nerves remained intact. Uchino's seventh shot sealed the deal, leading to an unforgettable night of partying. "We'll celebrate deservedly and transform night into day," Luthe proclaimed and kept his promise. The home party mile, known as the Bermuda Triangle, turned wild.

The retirement of his gloves is permanent: "No, I've had 16 years of professional football under my belt and had a fantastic journey," he replied when asked if a comeback could still happen. "It's a bit unreal for me that I was able to assist again. It can't be described in words."

Luthe began in Bochum, moved on to FC Augsburg, then to Union Berlin. There he participated in the Conference League in Europe, then to 1. FC Kaiserslautern, and finally back to his hometown Bochum. "I've learned a lot from teammates and coaches. Now is the perfect moment for me to thank everyone," he added, looking forward to whatever comes next. Captain Anthony Losilla couldn't comprehend the happiness Luthe felt towards him, "I'm just insanely happy for him because he's such a hilarious person."

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Despite the heartbreaking loss in the penalty shootout, Fortuna Düsseldorf managed to secure their spot in the Soccer Bundesliga next season, thanks to Takashi Uchino's decisive kick. Meanwhile, Andreas Luthe, the retired goalkeeper from VfL Bochum, was honored by Jannik Wittek, a player from opposing team, who wore Luthe's jersey in the locker room as a tribute.

Source: www.ntv.de