David Odonkor once caused a sensation at Borussia Dortmund and in the German national soccer team. The ex-BVB star is now 38 years old, kicks at TuS Bövinghausen – and has a public mud fight with the Oberliga promoted over allegedly outstanding salary payments.
German champion in 2002, third place in the 2006 World Cup, 75 Bundesliga games, 16 international matches: David Odonkor’s career has not been short of highlights.
The lightning-fast right winger had his heyday at Borussia Dortmund, where he first made the leap from the youth field to the professional team and then to the top performer.
In 2006, BVB then sold him to Real Betis for a whopping 6.5 million euros at the time. Odonkor spent 5 years in Spain with at least 40 appearances in La Liga.
With BVB icon Kevin Großkreutz in the 6th division
After that, the native of East Westphalia started a true odyssey through the lowlands of football. Alemannia Aachen, Hoverla Uzhgorod in the Ukraine, SV Wilhelmshaven as a player and coaching commitments in Verl, Herford or Hamm – Odonkor was on the road a lot.
Last summer he returned to Dortmund – to the sixth division club TuS Bövinghausen, which he was supposed to lead to promotion to the Oberliga together with BVB icon Kevin Großkreutz.
The ascent succeeded Bövinghausen. However, Odonkor’s contribution to this remained manageable. Due to injury, he only made a meager 13 appearances (one goal) for TuS.
David Odonkor vs. TuS Bövinghausen
To make matters worse, there is now Zoff with the club management. Compared to the “Ruhr News” the old star complained about outstanding salary payments. Because of this, he refused to participate in championship games at the end of the season.
“If the club doesn’t meet its obligations and salaries aren’t paid, then there’s nothing I can do,” said Odonkor. He had “fulfilled his obligations, even if I didn’t get any money,” said the ex-national player.
Bövinghausen’s club boss Ajan Dzaferoski contradicted this representation. “In Odonkor’s contract it says that he has to be 75 percent present. That means during training and games. He gets an expense allowance for that. But because he wasn’t 75 percent present, he has no right to it. He should read his contract better .”
“No more fun” with ex-BVB star David Odonkor?
An extension of Odonkor’s expiring contract is not an issue for TuS. The prominent kicker had a knee injury “that just didn’t get better. Then he was there as a spectator at the games, but he couldn’t train anymore,” said Dzaferoski. “Personally, David is a great guy. But in terms of football, at 38, he’s at an age where injuries are on the rise. At some point, the fun stops.”
A solution to the dispute does not appear to be in sight. However, Odonkor is already looking for a new job as a head coach or assistant coach.
“I did Bövinghausen the favor to help them. It’s over now and I’m still hungry,” he explained. He is now looking for a “club with structure where you are honest with each other,” added Odonkor.