Max Kruse’s retirement as a professional footballer surprised many fans. Now the technician is back – but only on the small field.
A little more than two months after his resignation from second division soccer team SC Paderborn, ex-national player Max Kruse has at least made a small comeback. On the second matchday of the “Baller League”, the small-field league in Cologne co-founded by Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski, Kruse surprisingly substituted himself for his team Hollywood United on Monday evening. “A comeback can happen so quickly – after the furious start of the Baller League last week, I really wanted to be there today. It was tingling,” said Kruse.
Like other ex-professionals such as Kevin-Prince Boateng or Christoph Kramer, Kruse is usually a team manager and does not play himself. For Monday, however, he drew one of two wild cards that any manager can give to guest players on any match day.
The 35-year-old Kruse terminated his contract in Paderborn at the end of November after just five months and five games. He has not yet announced what he will do in the future. “I’m currently organizing all my ideas and projects – football will certainly play a role in this. But other topics too,” said Kruse: “My sporting focus is now on the booth magic.”