After securing its place in the Regionalliga West, FC Gütersloh is planning the new season. Without three veterans.

FC Gütersloh says goodbye to three particularly deserving players. When Tim Manstein (34), Marcel Lücke (28) and Pascal Widdecke (29) moved to the Heidewald six years ago, FC Gütersloh had been very lucky to avoid relegation shortly beforehand because two clubs voluntarily withdrew from the Oberliga Westfalen.

But the trio remained loyal to FCG. “They have been absolute pillars of success in recent years. As a coaching team, we are lucky to have had three such players who were reliable in person, always lived for the club and always gave their all for our club,” says Gütersloh coach Julian Hesse.

The Gütersloh journey began for Manstein, Lücke and Widdecke in the Oberliga in last place and will end in the Regionalliga in 2023/2024 when the team is relegated.

In between, the promotion to the Regionalliga, winning the Westphalia Cup and taking part in the DFB Cup are great successes that will always have a special place in the history of the FCG.

I will also totally miss them as people, because they are not only good footballers, but also really great people

Julian Hesse

Manstein, Widdecke and Lücke were always absolute top performers. “Even though they had less playing time this season, they always put themselves at the service of the team. I will also miss them as people, because they are not only good footballers, but also great people,” said Hesse, praising the departing trio.

Team captain Manstein played 137 games in the FCG jersey in six years, scoring eleven times. He scored his most spectacular goal in this regional league season when he outwitted the opposing goalkeeper in an away match against the U23s of 1. FC Köln and sank a free kick into the net from 30 meters. The goal was voted goal of the month by Sporttotal.

Lücke formed the Gütersloh central defense with Lars Beuckmann. The defender scored six goals in his 140 games for FCG.

Widdecke has played 138 games as a full-back for FC Gütersloh, contributing five goals in the process. With the 1:0 winning goal in the semi-final at ASC Dortmund, he took his team to the final last season, paving the way to winning the Westphalia Cup.