In 2001 Mario Gomez put on the VfB Stuttgart jersey for the first time in his youth. The striker says goodbye to the club he shaped – and who shaped him – on Sunday.
VfB Stuttgart want ex-striker Gomez to prepare a worthy farewell despite the ghost backdrop. In 229 games for the Swabians, Gomez has scored 109 goals – a very strong rate.
Gomez himself and the whole club are now hoping that at least number 110 will be added on Sunday. It would be the culmination of a season that had a perfect end with many ups and downs with the quasi-safe climb. In any case, the only celebrations are different from those at the 2007 championship celebration:
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VfB plans to say goodbye
At VfB, plans are underway as to how the farewell national team player, who won the championship with the club in 2007, might take his leave.
“We have to see how we can do this in the entire corona construct,” VfB sports director Sven Mislintat had said earlier this week. “Of course it’s a shame that our player with such a career cannot go in front of spectators.”
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After the game against Darmstadt is over
The 34-year-old Gomez will leave the second division side after the last game of the season next Sunday against SV Darmstadt 98. “We will now discuss this in peace and try that we can do it in the framework that it will be the best possible last game for Mario,” said Mislintat. The framework also includes certain pre-game rituals. At least if you asked 21-year-old Mario Gomez in 2006:
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Löw pays tribute to Gomez before VfB farewell: “Big fan of yours”
Football coach Joachim Löw paid tribute to Mario Gomez before he left VfB Stuttgart. “I was and remain a big fan of yours,” congratulated Löw (60) in the “Bild” newspaper (Saturday). “For Mario, I have only praise words, I have huge respect for him, as a person and as an athlete.” Löw praised that the attacker was characterized by “incredible inner strength, incredible personality, great character”.
In addition to VfB, Gomez played for Bayern Munich, AC Florence, VfL Wolfsburg and Besiktas Istanbul. In all of his stations he was one of the best goal scorers. It is not yet clear whether the attacker will continue his career with another club.
Mario Gomez: From VfB Stuttgart to the football world
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