Nice gesture from Lukas Podolski: After a fan was seriously injured by a knife on Thursday before his farewell game in Cologne, the former national player showed a lot of compassion.
On Thursday, Lukas Podolski ran for the last time in the jersey of his favorite club in front of 50,000 spectators in the sold-out Cologne stadium – but before that there was a tragic incident: a 32-year-old fan who had traveled from Poland was stabbed and seriously injured in the city center before kick-off . Lukas Podolski has now visited him in the hospital.
“I am very sorry that something like this happened. I have full support. Get well soon,” commented the former national soccer player on the social media platform
The Polish fan was seriously injured with a knife in an altercation in Cologne’s pedestrian zone and had to undergo emergency surgery. According to the police, a suspect has now been identified. Numerous fans from Podolski’s current club Gornik Zabrze came to the farewell game.
Return desired: Cologne is courting Podolski
It had been an emotional evening, and at the end of the atmospheric football festival, Podolski was overcome with emotion. Overwhelmed by the fans’ thunderous applause, he let his tears flow freely. And as so often in his career, he struck the right tone when addressing the fans. “I always wanted to be honest, the boy from the street,” said the 2014 world champion with a wistful look at the spectators. “Without you, without the fans, football is nothing. It was important to me to keep these values.”
The great popularity makes the “most successful FC player of the current millennium,” according to club boss Werner Wolf, ideal for a return. Podolski wisely avoided the term farewell during the so-called thank you game, with which he wanted to show his appreciation for his six years at FC with 181 appearances. “There’s nothing to tell yet,” Podolski answered the many questions about his future, “I don’t want to break anything. I let things come to me. Then we’ll see what happens.”
The FC legend, who is tied to the Polish first division club Gornik Zabrze until next summer, could help to pacify the once again troubled traditional club. After the turbulent general meeting at the end of September, at which the board was denied discharge, a restructuring of the management level at the second division club is becoming apparent by the next board election in autumn 2025 at the latest.
The idea of using Poldi’s great potential in the club has been around for years. The intensified contact between club and professional through the game could speed up the process. According to Podolski, both sides are “in good and constructive discussions about how I could contribute to FC after my active career.” FC boss Wolf is hoping for an agreement: “The hype surrounding the thank you game shows once again what appeal Lukas Podolski has. His identification with FC and the city of Cologne makes Cologne’s heart beat worldwide.”
dpa/mel
