BERLIN – A comeback and farewell: Stuttgart validated its ticket for the Bundesliga on Sunday, despite a 3-1 defeat against Darmstadt, a match after which the former German international Mario Gomez announced his retirement.
After a season of absence, the VfB formalized its return to the elite during the 34th and last day of the second division, taking advantage of the poor performance of its direct opponents for promotion.
The five-time German champion finishes in 2nd place in the ranking (58 points) and will accompany in the elite Bielefeld, assured of his return to the 1st division, left in 2009, two weeks ago (68 pts).
Another highlight of the day, the former German international striker Mario Gomez, trained in Stuttgart and then passed notably by Bayern Munich and Fiorentina, announced hanging up the crampons at 34 years.
“It was my last mission for the VfB,” said Stuttgart’s only goalscorer against Darmstadt. “I always dreamed of ending my career here,” he said.
In his 78 appearances in the “Mannschaft” jersey (31 goals), Gomez finished 2nd in Euro 2008, 3rd in the 2010 World Cup, and was eliminated in the semifinals of Euro 2012 and Euro 2016. However, he was not part of the world champion group in 2014.
Heidenheim, club of the region of Stuttgart, snatched with the general surprise the 3rd place (55 pts) of the 2. Bundesliga, synonymous with barrage of accession against the 16th of Bundesliga, Werder Bremen.
Heidenheim, who was still playing in the 5th division in 2008, however lost 3-0 to Bielefeld (55 pts), but Hamburg who could take advantage of a misstep, was humiliated at home (5-1) by Sandhausen.
The HSV (4th, 54 pts) had never left the Bundesliga since the creation of the German Championship in 1963 until its relegation in 2018.
In 2020-2021, he will therefore spend at least a third season in the 2nd division.
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