Bundesliga: Simon Terodde’s silent departure from Schalke 04

Status: 05/24/2023 12:01 p.m

Simon Terodde once shot FC Schalke 04 spectacularly back into the Bundesliga. However, he can no longer help with the attempted rescue. The attacker has to do nothing at RB Leipzig because he is suspended. The 35-year-old remains hopeful of relegation.

Simon Terodde was in physical pain. He writhed and writhed, contorting his face, kicking in place like a stubborn child. He was not involved in a duel or injured himself. Rather, it was an outburst of anger that led to this state – and had consequences. At that moment in the game against Eintracht Frankfurt (2: 2), the attacker had apparently realized that this would be his unspectacular end at FC Schalke 04 would mean. It may have been his last game for the Royal Blues.

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In the penultimate game of the season, Terodde saw his fifth yellow card from referee Daniel Schlager for excessive verbal complaints and is therefore suspended for the season finale at RB Leipzig. In this game, which is of almost existential importance for Schalke. After all, it’s about nothing less than staying up – or direct relegation. And that without Terodde’s help. At least on Saturday, Schalke should not slip to the relegation place.

Club waives official farewell

The 35-year-old would be only too happy to help against Leipzig to prevent the Schalke Gau. However, the veteran stood in his own way. “That shouldn’t really happen, but that shows how much emotion is involved,” said S04 coach Thomas Reis almost Solomonically, while the player was silent – probably out of anger at himself, his own unbridled emotional outburst.

So Terodde will have to watch in Leipzig how his team fares. In the relegation he would be operational again. But until then there is still a long way to go for him – and his Schalke. And then it leads the Bocholter native into a new future away from the Schalke market. It is not yet known where he will go. It has been heard that he does not want to end his career just yet.

“Insanely Emotional”

Terodde had already announced his departure from Gelsenkirchen at the beginning of April. He certainly hadn’t expected that he would supposedly walk so silently. But maybe after the rising hero in the relegation he will also become a relegation hero.

The club had so far refrained from an official farewell in front of their own fans in the Schalke Arena due to the explosive starting position. “My time here was incredibly emotional, characterized by an incredible number of intense moments that I will remember forever,” Terodde said at the beginning of April.

With 30 goals in 33 games, Terodde immediately shot Schalke back into the Bundesliga after the dismal relegation. Hardly anyone had expected that the experienced Terodde would be able to have such a remarkable season again – in which he also won the top scorer in the 2nd division. With 172 career goals, he was also the best shooter in second division history.

One last big party?

However, Terodde also had the characteristic and the curiosity that he was a top striker for the 2nd division but only competitive to a limited extent for the 1st division. A realization that ran like a red thread through his long career and repeatedly caused guesswork at his individual stations. So far five goals in 32 Bundesliga appearances in the jersey of the S04 in the current season testify to a lack of assertiveness at the highest level.

Terodde, who has always been loyal to the club, has nevertheless written himself in the Schalke history books with his extraordinary pre-season. Now he has to worry, tremble and, at best, hope for an away win with the many Schalke fans who will make the journey to RB Leipzig. To one last big relegation party with Schalke. Or the short-term continuation of his Schalke career in the relegation games. Maybe he’ll get the big exit after all. For Terodde and Schalke, at least in theory, anything is still possible.

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