Very few had expected this: FC Schalke 04 surprisingly announced on Friday that striker Simon Terodde would stay with the club after all. Now he has explained his motivation.
Simon Terodde wants to help FC Schalke 04 to get promoted again. In April, the 35-year-old initially stated that he would not renew his contract with the Royal Blues. After the descent came the turnaround.
“Staying up in the league was the top priority and the last week changed a lot again. Especially after the Leipzig game. I can still remember the Bremen thing, where we stood in front of the north stand really emotionally. As the people in charge then approached me and asked me if I could imagine that, I thought that the story isn’t actually over here,” Terodde explained in an interview with club media after the extension.
S04 striker Terodde: “Will play in the first division again in 2024”
Despite the relegation, Terodde emphasizes the positive things in the club: “I can see that there is a real foundation here. Through the team, through the coach and through the fans. That’s why there was no other decision for me than to stay here. […] I am confident that in 2024 we will be back in the premier league.”
Terodde even extended his contract by three years. However, the sporting management will decide after each season whether the player will continue playing for the professionals or whether he will take on another function within the club.
Simon Terodde has played 65 games for Schalke 04 in the first and second divisions. He scored 35 goals and prepared six more. With a total of 172 goals in the German lower house, the 35-year-old is also the record goalscorer in the second division.