Lukasz Piszczek – Forever one of us!

Prior to kick-off, his team-mates applauded as chief executive officer Hans-Joachim Watzke, sporting director Michael Zorc and head of the licensed player division Sebastian Kehl handed him a bunch of flowers and a framed picture. The picture showed Piszczek being thrown into the air by his team-mates after the DFB-Pokal final, with a caption underneath that read "Forever one of us!" "You have cemented your place in the Borussia Dortmund history books forever," said stadium announcer Nobby Dickel through the loudspeakers. Piszczek had to take several deep breaths. He then high-fived everyone around him before disappearing into the changing rooms with a shout of "Auf geht's" ("Come on"). After all, there was still football to be played on this Saturday afternoon, and he doesn't like being the centre of attention.

A Black & Yellow since 2010 

Lukasz Piszczek's BVB career can be summarised in many ways: he has been a workhorse on the right of defence; a vice-captain that has led the team onto the pitch; a scorer and thwarter of goals; a multiple Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal winner. One of the most striking images of his time in Black & Yellow came recently, his emotions getting the better of him after the cup final in Berlin last week. One after another, his team-mates all came walking towards him to embrace him, before gathering together to throw him into the air. 

"I'm absolutely delighted. I've always said that I've extended my contract because I wanted to end my career by winning a title. Today we've managed that. I'm very proud of the team. This was pure emotion," said Piszczek, after his team-mates had put him back down on the ground again. "I knew that my career was slowly coming to an end. I could've never imagined this. Thank you to the team for the performance. I will remember this day for the rest of my life. This was special for me; it was simply brilliant."

Piszczek started his career with spells at LKS Goczalkowice, Gwarek Zabrze and Zaglebie Lubin in his homeland before moving across the German border to Hertha BSC and then to the Ruhr. It is almost 10 years ago to the day that the defender began the BVB chapter of his life, with the club reporting on 19 May 2010: "BVB sign Lukasz Piszczek". "Lukasz has developed very well and offers versatility," explained BVB sporting director Michael Zorc at the time, having signed the player on an initial three-year deal.

A striker by trade, who was deployed in defence for the first time by then Hertha and later BVB coach Lucien Favre, Piszczek established himself as one of the best right-backs in the world in the years that followed. His background as an attacking player made him the perfect modern full-back, a role which demanded a lot more than simply stopping opposition attacks in their tracks. "He is the driving force for our game," praised former Dortmund head coach Jürgen Klopp, who deemed Piszczek to be the ideal right-back.

"My brain retains everything related to football. After every game, I conduct my own analysis and note down what I did well – but also what wasn't so good," explained Piszczek. There have been lots of good things in recent years. Piszczek has made 382 appearances, scoring 19 goals. No player has made more Champions League appearances for the club than his 54 (one goal). He was a key figure in winning two Bundesliga titles (2011, 2012), three DFB-Pokals (2012, 2017, 2021) and three Supercups (2013, 2014, 2019). Like Marcel Schmelzer, he started six major finals in as many years between 2011 and 2017 – including the 2013 UEFA Champions League final. In total, Piszczek featured in eight finals – seven of which came with BVB. Both his first and final competitive appearances in Black & Yellow came against Bayer Leverkusen.

The almost 36-year-old was an institution on the right of the Dortmund defence for more than a decade, quietly going about his business on the flank. "You cannot sum up in words how important Piszczu has been over the years," said coach Edin Terzic after the DFB-Pokal triumph. "Piszczu is my hero, my personal hero. He has been such a stabilising factor for us in the last stages of his career," explained chief executive officer Hans-Joachim Watzke. "The way he has performed on the right flank over the past weeks has been brilliant. The boy has been with us since 2010. It's a wonderful story." 

Ultimate professional and role model

The former Poland international has not only been a leading figure on the pitch, but off it as well. Piszczek has been the vice-captain and a member of the Player Council at BVB. "If a young player needs a word of advice, then I'm happy to help," he said. "Piszczu is an absolute professional through and through and that makes him a role model too for our many young players. During his time at BVB, he has developed into a very well-regarded leading player on a sporting level and in terms of his character as well," said Zorc at one of the six contract extensions Piszczek signed with BVB. 

"I like stability in my life. On a personal level, it was a difficult step to leave Hertha in 2010. I simply had to go to Dortmund. And why should I leave BVB? I'm already at a big club. An awful lot would have had to happen for me to leave Dortmund," explained Piszczek to kicker magazine last year after signing his last contract extension.

Piszczek's work ethic, down-to-earthness, willingness to help out and his unassuming nature have made him a good fit for the city and the region. "I might not be a Dortmund native, but this club and these fans have grown so close to my heart over the years that I have felt like a true Borusse for years and have never felt the slightest desire to leave BVB," he said back in 2018, announcing: "I would like to end my career in Dortmund." Now that time has come. Thank you for a beautiful time, Piszczu!
Christina Reinke