At the weekend when there are no Bundesliga matches, Claudio Pizarro calls and once again ensures a sold-out Weser Stadium in Bremen. After 490 appearances, the Peruvian, who is always in a good mood, is retiring. There are stars and friends of the 43-year-old.
Claudio Pizarro once again demonstrated his accuracy in his farewell game. The 43-year-old Peruvian scored a total of four goals in Bremen and was the top scorer of the day. In the Weser Stadium, which was sold out to more than 40,000 visitors, an all-star selection from Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich and a team with Pizarro’s friends faced each other in “Claudios Fiesta” in three games of 30 minutes each. Among others, old companions such as Johan Micoud, Ailton, Arjen Robben, Giovane Elber and Mario Gomez came to Bremen. The loudest applause, apart from Pizarro, belonged to the former Werder goalscorer Ailton.
After just 98 seconds, the former top striker opened the scoring with a header, and three more goals were added before the very last substitution of his career. Shortly before, he even “saved” a penalty shot by Fin Bartels.
“It doesn’t get any better than that,” said Pizarro after leaving the pitch at 7:25 p.m., ending his career for good. “I feel at home here. I’m really happy that I played my last game here,” said the striker, who scored 197 goals for Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich and 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga. There is also a less successful trip to London to Chelsea. Pizarro now lives in Munich and works for Bayern as a brand ambassador.
Pizarro was German champion six times with Bayern and won the Champions League in 2013. In 2020 he ended his professional career in Bremen. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the farewell game could only take place this year. The decision in favor of Bremen as the venue was made a long time ago: “At the time, Bremen opened the door to Europe for me.” Bremen’s double coach and club icon Thomas Schaaf and, for the first time since his release on the Weser in May 2021, Florian Kohfeldt were also on the bench that day.
Pizarro still holds three Bundesliga records: No Bundesliga professional has ever scored at least one goal in 21 calendar years, and his goalscoring at the age of 40 years and 227 days is unmatched. And 490 Bundesliga appearances are also unique for a foreign professional.
