Germany's strongest back? This star carries his team alone

According to the “Statista” database, one third of all adults in Germany suffer from recurring back problems. Even if we don’t want to think about it, Noel Futkeu is probably one of them right now. The striker is currently carrying Greuther Fürth all by himself in the 2. Bundesliga. An entire team? How is that even possible?

Strictly speaking, the Clover Leaves still line up with eleven players every match, of course — but without Futkeu, they could have started planning seriously for the 3. Liga months ago. The 23-year-old is without a doubt the greatest insurance policy any team in German professional football can have these days.

In 33 matches this season, Futkeu has scored 18 goals and set up five more. That means he has been involved in 50 percent of all Fürth’s goals this season. Felix Klaus, the player with the second-most goals on the team, has managed just seven.

Most recently, the former Frankfurt player has scored in four straight matches. In the 3-2 home win over Darmstadt 98 on matchday 30, Futkeu even bagged a hat-trick. “From my side, it’s a love affair. He’s just a great guy on and off the pitch and enormously important for us,” coach Heiko Vogel said about Futkeu at the following press conference. Naturally, he also delivered in Fürth’s most important game of the season.

In the Franconian derby nearly two weeks ago, Futkeu at least earned his Clover Leaves a point in the 1-1 draw. He was so impressive that even a legendary striker raved about him afterward.

📸 Maja Hitij – 2026 Getty Images

“Futkeu is a very exciting striker. He’s very mobile, finds his own spaces, and is always active. He also has a certain calmness when the ball is moving around. He recognizes when the defender loses shape, when he can run into deeper space, and when he has to come short for the ball. On top of that, he’s very difficult for defenders to handle.” Miroslav Klose was clearly impressed by the opposing forward’s abilities. Was the FCN coach already eyeing a possible summer transfer?

If so, we have to take the wind out of the 2014 World Cup winner’s sails. On April 20, 2026, Eintracht Frankfurt had already announced the striker’s return. After Futkeu moved from Frankfurt’s U21s to Fürth in the summer of 2024, the Hessian club had a buy-back clause built into his contract.

That exact clause has now been activated by SGE. For just €1.3 million, Futkeu will return to his former club this summer. According to ‘kicker’, however, it is still unclear whether Frankfurt will keep the striker or sell him on for a higher fee. Still sounds like a perfect story for everyone involved, doesn’t it?

📸 Daniela Porcelli – 2025 Getty Images

Frankfurt get back a ready-made striker, Fürth pocket a transfer profit of more than one million euros, and Futkeu may be taking the next step in his career. So where’s the problem? The problem is 17th place in the table. Ahead of today’s game against Fortuna Düsseldorf (kick-off 15:30), the Green-Whites are sitting in a direct relegation spot.

A loss or a draw against Düsseldorf would send them down to the third tier for the first time since 1997. Still, a win could at least temporarily lift them into the relegation playoff spot.

Either Bielefeld have to lose at the same time against Hertha BSC, or Fürth need to score at least three goals against Fortuna and overtake them on goal difference. If both happen, 15th place is still possible in the best-case scenario.

“The fact is: we have to win now. It’s a very big task for us,” Noel Futkeu told ‘Sportschau’ during the week.

Luckily, the striker recently proved that he can score three goals in a single game. And let’s be honest: what kind of footballing hero story would it be if a player carried his team on his back all season only for them to go down in the end?

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

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