Hamdi Dahmani is one of the record players at Fortuna Köln, but the 36-year-old also made an impression at Rot-Weiss Essen, Alemannia Aachen and Viktoria Köln.

“Now the time has come…my active time as a player is coming to an end sooner than expected and planned,” wrote Hamdi Dahmani on Instagram. The 36-year-old took to the pitch for the very last time on Sunday, scoring a goal and an assist in Fortuna Köln’s U23s’ 3-0 away win over Bergisch Gladbach in the Mittelrheinliga.

For the striker, his career comes to an end where he has left by far the biggest footprint in his 17 years at senior level. Dahmani played 332 times for the Fortuna first team – only three players have more games to their name. The Cologne native also scored the second most goals for the Südstädter (71) after Karl-Heinz Mödrath (148).

“I’m proud to be one of the players with the most games for Fortuna and to have my own fan chant. Just crazy,” wrote Dahmani, who thanked the fans.

Fortuna Cologne: “A special, familiar club”

The goalscorer will particularly remember “highlights such as the promotions, the relegation matches and the derbies”. “In between, there were also defeats, injuries, setbacks, a bitter relegation and the loss of a special person,” explained Dahmani, referring to honorary president Klaus Ulonska, who passed away in 2015. “All of this has welded the club together and made it what it is. A special, family-oriented club!”

But Dahmani not only celebrated success at Fortuna. He also played 73 times for Alemannia Aachen, 23 times for Rot-Weiss Essen and 17 times for Viktoria Köln. “At Viktoria, in Essen and in Aachen, I also experienced highs and lows and got to know a lot of great people. I’m particularly proud that I made a positive impression despite my short time there and that I’m a welcome guest.”

Even after his active career, Dahmani, who concluded by thanking all his companions and especially his family, will remain part of the Fortuna family – as assistant coach to Markus von Ahlen in the Regionalliga team.