At SV Meppen, the crowd favourite has said an emotional goodbye to the fans and the club. He is moving to the Regionalliga West.

Five and a half years and 147 games in which he scored 33 goals and set up 21 others: that’s Luka Tankulic’s haul in the SV Meppen jersey.

From 1 July 2023, the 31-year-old attacking player will play for his hometown club Rot Weiss Ahlen in the Regionalliga West. Via Instagram, Tankulic bid a highly emotional farewell to the fans and the club.

“Dear Meppen fans, after five and a half years it’s time to say goodbye. I thank all teammates, officials and fans for this wonderful time! I am simply grateful and happy that SVM gave me the chance to play for this wonderful club. I will never forget this time and will always carry the club, the city and you fans in my heart. Now the last chapter in my career begins. It has been an honour.”

And the next stop will also be very emotional for Tankulic. For it was in Ahlen that his career began. Tankulic was born in Ahlen and played for RWA’s youth team and later for the professionals. Here he made 25 appearances. From 1 July onwards, more will follow.

“A leading player, a matter of the heart, an Ahlener Jung,” is how Orhan Özkara, sporting director of Ahlen, describes the return of prodigal son Luka Tankulic to the Werse to the newspaper “die Glocke”.

Who will be Tankulic’s new coach in Ahlen has still not been decided. However, Tankulic is already the fourth external addition after Oktay Dal, who returns to Münsterland from Wuppertaler SV, Luis Ackermann (Victoria Clarholz) and Derrick Kyere (1. FC Kaan-Marienborn).

In addition, Serkan Temin, Robin Brüseke, Jannik Borgmann and Andre Dej have valid contracts from 1 July 2023. As of 29 May 2023, the Ahlen club has eight players under contract. But they have not yet found a new coach.