Due to injury problems, 33-year-old St. Pauli attacker Simon Zoller announced his retirement at the end of the season

German attacker Simon Zoller released a video on Saturday announcing that he will end his 18-year professional career at the end of this season.

"I'm nervous and excited at the same time," he said in the video. "It's a mixture of emotions. Due to health issues, I won't be able to return to the court. My career will end at the end of this season, on June 30."

The 33-year-old Simon Zoller started his career in the youth training of Karlsruhe SC and then moved to Osnabrück, Kaiserslautern, Cologne and other teams. He has played for St. Pauli since January 2019 and has scored 33 goals and provided 21 assists in 109 games so far.

So far, Zoller has played 386 times at the club level, including 3 Europa League games, 114 Bundesliga games, 123 Bundesliga games and 22 German Cup games. He has contributed 120 goals and 46 assists, and won 3 Bundesliga championships with the team.

Affected by a muscle injury, Cole has been out since July 2024. He also admitted in the video that the injury was the key factor that prompted him to make the decision to retire: "It became increasingly difficult to continue fighting injuries both physically and mentally. I feel satisfied and calm about my decision to retire. This is a process that is gradually taking shape in my heart. During my recovery, I reviewed many past events and relived the good memories and important moments in various clubs."

"I went through a difficult period at St. Pauli with constant injuries. The reality was very different from what I had expected, both for the club and for me. It was difficult for me to get back into shape physically. I am deeply sorry for this because I had expected everything to be completely different. I would like to thank the club and the fans for their understanding and support during this difficult period."

"I have gained a lot from my career over the past 18 years," concluded Zoller. "Without the support of certain people, I would not have been able to get to where I am today. I am sure we will meet again on the pitch and I am sure that I will continue to be connected with football. Finally, I want to say 'thank you' and look forward to everything in the future."