VfL Bochum will formally send off ten out of contract players ahead of their game against Greuther Fürth on Sunday – but not all will necessarily be leaving.
The most high-profile of the players is left-back Danilo Soares, although a contract has been on the table for the left-back for some time. It remains unclear if he can be convinced to stay.
Simon Lorenz and Ulrich Bapoh could yet be offered new deals. Former captain Stefano Celozzi, along with youngsters Maxwell Gyamfi and Jan Wellers, are expected to depart.
The club’s three loan players – Vasilios Lampropoulos, Jordi Osei-Tutu and Manuel Wintzheimer – will be recognised as well, but again, the club have not ruled out bringing any, or all, of the trio back on some kind of basis next season.
One certainty is that Patrick Fabian will, as planned, be bringing an end to his 20-year playing career with the club. The 32-year-old has spent this season transitioning to a backroom role and in future will act as an assistant to sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz.
“Patti is a very special player. It is a shame that we cannot offer him the appropriate setting for his farewell,” said Schindzielorz, acknowledging the ongoing coronavirus restrictions. “We will certainly be able to celebrate his retirement once again when fans are allowed back into the stadium.”
The club posted the above video on Friday with tributes from several former and current team mates. The club’s fans also left a banner at the training club to pay their own tribute to a true one-club man.
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