Saturday’s game against 1. FC Köln will be Nikolce Noveski‘s last appearance in front of the 1. FSV Mainz 05 home faithful. The 36-year-old is calling time on his career in Mainz come the end of the season. The defender has played in 253 Bundesliga games and 60 in the 2. Bundesliga for Mainz, made 23 appearances in the DFB Cup, ten in European Cup competitions and has won 64 caps for Macedonia. Nikolce Noveski is Mainz’s all-time record appearance holder in the Bundesliga and has been a central figure in Mainz’s success since the turn of the century.
His summer exit had been foreseen but now that the moment is drawing near, a sense of melancholy at his departure sets in. He will take some fond memories from his eleven years at Mainz with him: two promotions, featured in three Europa League campaigns, the move to the Coface Arena. He can look back on his time with the 05ers with real pride as no other player has left such a mark on the club’s sporting development and history. Thank you, Nikolce!
