Andreas Ivan was on the cusp of joining the professional team at FC Schalke 04 and even played one Bundesliga match. Now they have parted ways.

Andreas Ivan was one of ten players who will no longer be part of FC Schalke 04’s U23s next season. After two years, the 29-year-old, who even played for Red Bull New York in the Major Soccer League, and the Royal Blues will part ways.

The midfielder made a brief appearance in the second half of the 4:0 (2:0) win against his former club Rot Weiss Ahlen.

But is he a lucky or unlucky player? How does Ivan rate his time at Schalke in retrospect? After all, he was on the cusp of joining the professional team in his first year with the miners and even played a Bundesliga match before a lengthy injury stopped him.

“I had a great time here and was able to make my Bundesliga debut. That was actually incredible,” said Ivan after the game against Ahlen. “Who else makes their Bundesliga debut at the age of 28? I proved to myself what I’m capable of when I’m healthy. And that will remain forever. “

I had a lot of fun here and appreciate my time at Schalke immensely

Andreas Ivan

Ivan is very grateful to Schalke for giving him this opportunity and wants to remember his time at S04 in an “unreservedly positive” light. “I had a lot of fun here and appreciate my time at Schalke immensely,” said Ivan.

Perhaps he could have done even better than the one appearance in the 6-1 defeat to RB Leipzig in January 2023, but shortly afterwards he suffered an injury and was out until October with persistent adductor problems. “I think it’s a great pity. But there’s no point in mourning,” he said. “That’s soccer. It doesn’t do me any good. I have to look ahead and keep working hard on myself. Let’s see what new opportunities arise.”

He does not currently have a new club. “I feel good and am open to anything,” explained the former Romanian U21 international. However, he does have a regional preference. “I would like to stay in Germany. There’s no tendency, I’m listening to everything and would like to stay close by.” And preferably in the regional league.

Meanwhile, his still-coach Jakob Fimpel was busy promoting his departing ten-man: “Andy Ivan is still a fantastic player when he’s fit,” said Fimpel. “It was just this injury that put him out a bit. But he’s now fit again and on the pitch. I’m looking forward to seeing how he progresses.”

Wherever that may be, nobody can take his Bundesliga game away from him