Suddenly everything happened very quickly: After the Bundesliga soccer team VfL Bochum parted ways with their long-time regular goalkeeper Manuel Riemann last week, the second division club SC Paderborn signed the veteran goalkeeper for the current second half of the season. After celebrating a successful debut in the SCP goal in the 1-0 away win at SV Darmstadt 98, he addressed the VfL Bochum fans again the next day with emotional words.
Riemann had worn the Bochum jersey for over nine years before a big argument broke out before the relegation games last May and he was kicked out of the professional squad.
Manuel Riemann was pardoned again last fall under new head coach Dieter Hecking and was allowed to take part in Bochum team training again. But there should no longer be a return between the posts in a competitive game.
“After nine and a half almost uninterrupted and, in my eyes, very successful years, the VfL Bochum chapter came to an end for me last week. I have now started a new chapter in Paderborn,” the 36-year-old said in an Instagram video.
Emotionally touched, he thanked the VfL supporters for their long time in Bochum: “We were always honest with each other. I really appreciate that about you. I always left my heart on the pitch and always gave everything for the colors. I always left my last shirt on the pitch and always wanted success.”
Riemann also spoke again about his difficult last year at the club, which ended with the early termination of his contract at Castroper Straße: “Sometimes I overshot the mark, but that’s part of me too. I’m responsible for all the mistakes I made In the end, due to different opinions, there was a break in one point or another, which unfortunately could no longer be mended. So I also had to realize that in the end it was time to join hands enough and too go.”
Riemann is confident about “new opportunities” in Paderborn
The farewell made him “very sad”. From now on, the keeper is looking to his new club position in East Westphalia: “I have found a new opportunity in Paderborn. I am incredibly looking forward to the new task and the new challenge.”
VfL Bochum will always remain in the goalkeeper’s heart. Riemann will continue to keep his fingers crossed for VfL in the relegation battle and will “only look back on the time in a positive way”.
Riemann played a total of 98 games in the Bundesliga and 174 games in the 2nd Bundesliga for the Ruhr area club.