German Goalkeeper Michael Rensing Jobless Again

Katrin Figge

A little over a year ago, I wrote a blog about the comeback of Michael Rensing, a German goalkeeper in the Bundesliga.

[Read: "Comeback of a Spurned Goalkeeper"]

It was a euphoric, hopeful entry, lauding Rensing’s impeccable performances for FC Cologne after he had been spurned by FC Bayern (where he was hailed as Oliver Kahn’s successor for the longest of time and then coldly asked to leave) and was jobless for quite some time.

It is probably quite ironic that Rensing now finds himself in a similar situation.

If there has ever been one goalkeeper that can be called a poor sod in the Bundesliga, it is definitely Rensing. After one and a half years playing for FC Cologne, he is yet again looking for a new employer.

However, the real tragedy of this situation is that he is not the one to blame. Had he played poorly in the past season, he would probably still have a job.

Rensing was the outstanding player of the FC Cologne squad. When his teammates failed to deliver and haplessly stumbled across the pitch, it was Rensing who turned out to be the motivator, conjuring team and fighting spirit. The fans loved him almost as much – some even more – as Lukas Podolski, and that says a lot because “Prince Poldi” is football royalty in Cologne.
 
In the end, however, hundreds of saves turned out to be not enough. Sometimes conceding up to five or six goals in a single game, Rensing was often left alone by a gruesome defense – and even after matches like this, Rensing was still called the best man on the pitch.

To many observers, it came as no surprise that Cologne, by the end of this season, was relegated to the second division of the Bundesliga. The club quickly decided that it had to restructure and let go of some players: among them was Rensing.
 
His status as the best man of the squad and most valuable player simply made him too expensive. The club can’t afford to keep him with its cut-down, limited budget. Rensing had to go, and still didn’t find a new club yet. That’s the bitter and frustrating reality he has to face.

In a recent interview with goal.com, Rensing said that, although he always tries to stay humble, he simply can’t understand why he hasn’t received any offers. Neither can I. 

The last time he was already written off by football experts, Rensing managed to rise like a phoenix from the ashes and proved all his doubters wrong. Does he have enough strength to do it a second time?

One can only hope that a goalkeeper as solid and passionate as Rensing is will be welcomed to a new club soon.