Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and Nuri Can are going their separate ways after a decade. The goalkeeper coach has terminated his contract.

In recent years, Rot-Weiß Oberhausen was very well positioned at the goalkeeper position. Partly responsible for the success: goalkeeper coach Nuri Can.

But now the cloverleaves have to look for a successor. The contract with the 35-year-old has been terminated. This was announced by the regional league club on Thursday. Can has to step down for professional reasons, they said.

“Nuri approached us with the wish to terminate his contract prematurely. We did not want to stand in the way of this, his very personal decision, and have therefore agreed to it,” explained sporting director Patrick Bauder. “We thank Nuri for his time with the cloverleaf on his chest and wish him only the best both professionally and privately.”

The departure of the native of Gelsenkirchen marks the end of a clear era in Oberhausen. Can spent the past decade at the club. Initially, he stood between the posts for the then second team. In 2017, the former Schalke talent switched to the coaching team and from then on looked after the keepers.

RWO: Nuri Can promoted current Schalke player Justin Heekeren

And he did it successfully: During his tenure, Justin Heekeren, Robin Udegbe and Daniel Davari were recommended for transfers to higher leagues. For Heekeren, who moved to FC Schalke 04 last summer, RWO even collected a transfer fee of around 180,000 euros. “He had a major influence on my goalkeeping game,” Heekeren thanked his sponsor at the time.

“I have had a wonderful ten years here,” Can explained as part of his farewell. “I was given the chance to develop and I am very grateful for the trust placed in me as a person. RWO has and will always have a big part in my heart. Unfortunately, some things have changed with me professionally that no longer allow me to devote 100 per cent to both tasks.”

It is not yet known who will succeed Can as goalkeeping coach at Lindnerstraße.