2024-09-13 02:43:18
In 2020, Nico Schulz was still a German international. But then the defender’s decline began. Now he is set to play in Turkey – his new club has recently caused unrest itself.
“Nico Schulz is at Ankaragücü,” wrote the Turkish second division club MKE Ankaragücü on Thursday afternoon at X – and surprised not only their own fans, but also German football. Schulz had last been without a club since the summer of 2023 – and had disappeared from the public eye. Last competitive game: May 7, 2022, in his then club Borussia Dortmund’s 3-1 victory against SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
Accordingly, numerous reactions from the fans of the club from the Turkish capital were also negative. “You are crazy,” wrote one under the post, another said: “Out with the management.” And yet another said ironically: “He suits you.” For good reason: Ankaragücü was only relegated from the “Süper Lig” on the last matchday at the end of last season, and the club’s then boss Faruk Koca caused a scandal in December 2023 when he knocked down referee Halil Umut Meler with a punch after the 1-1 draw against Çaykur Rizespor. The league then suspended play for over a week, and Koca was banned for life.
After four match days in the second division, Ankaragücü is currently in eighth place, having started more poorly than well with two wins and two defeats. And this is where Nico Schulz now plays – who has also suffered a sudden decline: Schulz, who was then playing for Hoffenheim, made his debut in the German national team in 2018, played a total of 12 international matches under national coach Joachim Löw up to 2020, scoring two goals.
Borussia Dortmund signed the full-back back in 2019 for a whopping €25.5 million, which was transferred to Hoffenheim. But Schulz was never able to really establish himself at BVB and never got beyond the role of substitute player. In addition, in December 2023, the Dortmund public prosecutor’s office brought charges against the now 31-year-old for dangerous bodily harm to his ex-girlfriend. At the end of February, the proceedings against Schulz were dropped by the Dortmund district court, but the professional had to pay €150,000 to charitable organizations because he had admitted his own misconduct through his lawyer.
By then, Schulz had long since ceased to be part of the BVB squad and was due to leave the club. In the summer of 2022, however, no taker was found, and since then Schulz has only trained with the club. A year later, the club and player agreed to terminate his contract early. In August 2024, regional league club Babelsberg allowed the Berlin native to train with the club. However, the club excluded Schulz at the beginning of September – reports that the separation was due to fan protests on social media were denied by sports director Paul Bachmeyer: “This did not happen under any pressure.” Now Schulz has to deal with the displeasure of the fans in Ankara.