At some point, it just comes to an end: This is also the case for VfB Homberg and Philipp Gutkowski. After nine years, the goalkeeper is leaving the club.

Nine years at the same club: that doesn’t happen very often these days. Philipp Gutkowski has played for VfB Homberg since July 1, 2015. But in the summer, even the VfB veteran at Rheindeich will come to an end.

“I was always someone who felt very comfortable here. That’s why I never wanted to leave. But now the time has come to get to know something new,” Gutkowski tells Forecasting.

The 2023/2024 season did not go well for the goalkeeper. He played just seven games for VfB Homberg in the Oberliga Niederrhein. A knee injury put him out of action. “I’m also currently in rehab after meniscus surgery. But I want to be back on the pitch soon,” reports the 29-year-old keeper.

It remains to be seen where that will be. But Gutkowski is definitely still ambitious and wants to be as high up in the box as possible. After all, with 100 appearances in the Regionalliga West and 106 games in the Oberliga Niederrhein, he has plenty of arguments in terms of experience

My ambitions are even higher than the regional or district league. I would love to continue playing in goal in the Oberliga.

Philipp Gutkowski

“My ambitions lie above the national or district league. I would love to continue in goal in the Oberliga. I know what I can do and will come back even stronger after the injury. I’m hoping for a few calls and will listen to everything,” emphasizes Gutkowski.

The 1.90-meter tall goalkeeper comes from the youth department of VfB Homberg and, apart from the 2013/2014 season, when he played for SV Hönnepel-Niedermörmter, has only ever played for VfB from Duisburg-Homberg. That will now change on July 1, 2024.

Coach Stefan Janßen’s team is playing a really strong second half of the season and has now worked its way up to fifth place in the table. Most recently, there have been six wins in a row. Homberg’s last three games of the season are against Schonnebeck, Büderich and Baumberg