Following relegation turmoil, Bochum's renowned player decides to retire from football.
VfL Bochum manages to stay in the top league with the help of their reliable goalkeeper, Andreas Luthe. However, he doesn't want to spend his fifth consecutive year in the fourth division. He's planning to retire.
Unfortunately for Luthe, he missed out on the most melodramatic send-off moment. In a relegation match, he couldn't stop a crucial penalty kick from Dusseldorf's Takashi Uchino, causing VfL Bochum to drop down to the Bundesliga. The disappointing turn of events marked his last game as a professional goalkeeper. The 39-year-old had played for VfL Bochum from 2001 to 2016 and then moved on, returning last winter.
"This was my final game in professional football, if you see it that way. Now it's time to stop - at my home team," he told the Sat.1 reporter: "A week ago, I would've never imagined being such a protagonist. They said I was done. But after we lost on the final matchday to Werder Bremen, the club had a change of heart."
Luthe was drafted in after the club dropped starting goalkeeper Manuel Riemann due to conflicting views. The situation led to a discussion within the team.
Luthe had to step up and perform. In the first leg, he made an error, allowing Yannick Engelhardt of Dusseldorf to score, widening the gap to 3-0. Bochum's chances seemed slim, with a mountain to climb in the second leg. However, Luthe was unbothered. "It doesn't matter how. The goal was to maintain a clean sheet," defender Keven Schlotterbeck was quoted as saying. "When they scored, I thought it was game over, but the Andi kept things under control and boosted our morale."
Luthe isn't known for his quick reactions like Riemann, but he's calm and collected under pressure. He expertly stopped crosses during Fortuna's dangerous moments. He was also a good source of motivation for his teammates. A lack of encouragement from Riemann had plagued the team recently. "Riemann is an important part of us, and he's been a VfLer for a long time. He's emotional and reacts that way, which can be frustrating, but we need that spark," Luthe explained: "We spoke before the game. Manu has always been a VfLer and an important player. He's talented, and we will miss him. Me and Manu, we complement each other."
As a tribute to Luthe, the fans cheered him on loudly before the penalty shootout. And he responded, denying Hoffmann's opening shot. It was his only save, but it was critical and put Bochum in the lead. However, Kastenmeier equalized with a powerful deflection from Masovic, and the Bochum fans were nervous. Uchino's seventh shot won the game, and fans flooded the streets to celebrate.
The idea of a comeback is unlikely for Luthe: "No, I've had sixteen years of professional football, and I've had a great career," he responded when asked about the possibility of returning: "I started in Bochum, went to Union Berlin, played in the Conference League in Europe, then Kaiserslautern, and finally back to Bochum."
"I've gained so much from my teammates and coaches. It's the perfect time to express my gratitude. I'm excited for everything to come in the future." Captain Anthony Losilla couldn't believe the fortune that VfL and Luthe received. "I'm just ecstatically joyful for him because he's such a delightful person."
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Despite Fortuna Düsseldorf's best efforts, they were unable to prevent VfL Bochum from securing a vital point in the final match of the Soccer Bundesliga season, thanks to asave from Luthe on Hoffmann's opening shot in the penalty shootout. In the same match, a crucial penalty kick from Dusseldorf's Takashi Uchino ultimately sealed Bochum's relegation, leaving Fortuna Düsseldorf to celebrate their own survival in the top league.
Source: www.ntv.de
