Edin Dzeko set a new Bundesliga record when he returned to Germany’s top flight after an absence of 5,734 days during Schalke’s 3-0 defeat by Augsburg.
The 40-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina striker came off the bench for the final 15 minutes of Schalke’s opening match of the new Bundesliga season, marking his first appearance in the competition since leaving VfL Wolfsburg in 2011.
Dzeko’s return created a new record for the longest gap between Bundesliga appearances. He was 40 years and 167 days old when he made his comeback.
The milestone came on an evening that otherwise offered little encouragement for Schalke. Augsburg secured a 3-0 victory, leaving the home side to begin the new campaign with a heavy defeat.
Dzeko had already made an early contribution to his new club before his Bundesliga return. The experienced forward scored twice for Schalke in a cup match, but he was unable to influence the result after being introduced against Augsburg.
His appearance nevertheless gave the match a place in Bundesliga history. The 5,734-day interval since his previous league appearance set a new record, underlining the extraordinary length of time between his two spells in the competition.
Dzeko’s first Bundesliga period came with VfL Wolfsburg, whom he left in 2011. His latest outing means he has now returned to the German championship more than 15 years after departing the club.
Schalke will need a much-improved display in their next fixture, when they face Bayern Munich at home. The match will provide Dzeko with an immediate opportunity to demonstrate the qualities that persuaded Schalke to bring him back to the Bundesliga.
Despite the defeat by Augsburg, his experience remains a significant part of Schalke’s squad. The striker’s two cup goals had already shown his ability to make an impact, while his record-setting return adds another notable chapter to his career.
For now, however, the headline from Schalke’s first league match of the season is dominated by the result. Augsburg’s three-goal victory overshadowed Dzeko’s historic appearance, although the Bosnia and Herzegovina international’s comeback ensured the game would still be remembered beyond the opening weekend.
