Edin Dzeko is FC Schalke 04’s new striker. This was partly due to the fact that things had not been going well for the striker at AC Florence recently.
Edin Dzeko has played for five clubs since leaving Germany—and before his possible return to FC Schalke 04 this winter. If it were up to him, it could have been fewer. At the very least, Dzeko couldn’t understand his departure from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023. “It was a strange decision for me,” the Bosnian striker later told Gazzetta dello Sport. Dzeko’s contract had expired at the time, and Inter had not renewed it. “A regular player who plays in all the important games, including the Champions League final, could have been kept.”
But as it was, the 0-1 defeat in the Champions League final against his former club Manchester City – Dzeko was in the starting line-up for the final – was his last game in a Nerazzurri shirt. His last on the biggest stage in sport. A few weeks later, he returned to Istanbul, where the game had been played, and signed for Fenerbahce. In two seasons in the SüperLig, Dzeko – who was already 37 years old when he arrived – scored an impressive 35 goals. These are his last in European league football to date.
AC Florence was the first club where the former Bundesliga top scorer was no longer a reliable source of goals in his career.
One goal in the Conference League qualifier against Ukrainian underdogs Polissya Zhytomyr, one in the league phase against Rapid Vienna – and then nothing since October. At least, no goals. Dzeko still made the headlines at the end of November for a controversy with the fans of the Viola, who are threatened with relegation this year.
After a 0-1 defeat in the Conference League against AEK Athens, he lashed out at the supporters: “You can say that we are bad and that we don’t deserve to wear this jersey. That’s all fine, no problem. But when we play at home, we need the fans’ support, not their mockery every time we misplace a pass. We have to get out of this situation together.”
Vanoli praises Dzeko – and puts him on the bench
After the game, Dzeko said, you can boo the team, but during the game it’s counterproductive. “If a player makes a mistake and the boos start, he’ll be nervous the next time, maybe won’t dare to pass again or won’t want the ball at all. Then everything becomes even more difficult.”
Three days later, everything did indeed become even more difficult: 0-2 at Atalanta Bergamo, the eighth game in a row without a win. And once again, Dzeko spoke up, this time with a special aid: after the game, Dzeko stood in front of the away section with a megaphone to make himself heard by the fans. The incident was even investigated by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) – ultimately without any consequences for Dzeko. Florence coach Paolo Vanoli even praised his veteran player as “finally someone who defends the team.”
However, this did not help his playing time. While Dzeko was still used in almost every game, at least as a substitute, under Vanoli’s predecessor Stefano Pioli, he is no longer in demand under Vanoli, making only two brief appearances in Serie A. This is an opportunity for Schalke 04. But now it’s all about the promotion race instead of the relegation battle.
