Sebastian Rode, after 14 successful years in professional football, recently retired. In his first match as a retired player, he returned to his childhood club, FC Alsbach, in the 7th division. Riding his bike to the game from his home in Bensheim, Rode was greeted with cheers from the 4000 fans who braved the rain to watch him play.
At 19:34, amidst cheers and applause, Rode was subbed on. Although he didn’t score a goal, he did assist in the team’s 10-0 victory, setting up a goal for Anas Alaoui. Rode expressed his happiness after the match, saying, “It was a special experience for me. It felt like coming home playing on this old pitch. Scoring goals was never really my thing, but it was great to be back on the field.”
His former teammates made sure to score in his honor, with Alaoui (3), Skhiri, Knauff, Bahoya, Buta, Ferri, Chandler, Chaïbi, and an own goal contributing to the 11-0 victory. Despite not finding the back of the net himself, Rode’s return to the pitch was a memorable and heartwarming moment for both him and the fans.
