“Not that they say: It’s about time he packed”
The four-time ZSC championship goal is convincing again this season, now Lukas Flüeler has surprisingly announced his retirement at the end of the season at 33. That’s behind it.
—
–Looking ahead: Lukas Flüeler will switch to the private sector in spring 2022.
Photo: Thomas Egli
On Friday evening you won with the ZSC Lions 4: 1 in Lugano, now you announce your retirement at the end of the season. How did that happen?
I got up at 7 a.m. today and made up my mind. (laughs) No, of course not. The process started a good month ago, when you did an interview with me. I thought about it beforehand. Even before this season. After the botched last season I said to myself: I want to fight for a contract again, show my best ice hockey, hide everything else. In the meantime I had very positive conversations with Sven (Leuenberger, the sports director). He gave me time to think about the whole thing. I’m already working on the side at the same time, 30 percent at Swiss Life. Now there is an opportunity that I wanted to seize.
–
What do good conversations with Leuenberger mean? Did he offer you a contract?
There would have been a solution. But it wasn’t about how much money or how many years. But first of all, about feeling the pulse. I wonder if I could stay in this role again. The November break is always a turning point in which decisions are made. There would have been a possibility. But I decided against it.
–
“It was clear to me: if I leave, I want to be a goalie who can look in the mirror.”
You just turned 33. Goalies normally play until 35, 36. Zug’s Leonardo Genoni is a year older than you. Why now?
It is individual for everyone. Everyone has their own idea of when, how and where they want to end their career. It was clear to me: If I leave, I want to be a goalie who can look in the mirror. I am very happy with the way I got back to winning this season. And I want to end my career because my body is still doing it. The time is right.
–
What opportunities did you have at Swiss Life?
I am already working in a really cool team at Swiss Life. I come from team sport and have a similar working atmosphere there. We are very good with each other. I work in project controlling. That means: all projects that run through Swiss Life go through with us. Be that IT, HR and so on. It is very exciting. I am happy to continue there. And it’s all the better that Swiss Life still has a connection to the new ZSC stadium, the Swiss Life Arena.
–
Will you be involved in the stadium too?
No, I’m not involved. But I will of course watch it from both sides.
–
You have been playing at ZSC for 14 years and have a lot of friends on the team. When did you announce your resignation?
In this week. First the ones I’ve known longest, like Patrick Geering or Reto Schäppi. I’ve been through a lot with Geering. Right from the start, when I came up from GC to ZSC. It was important to me that he found out first. In these 14 years we have always shared the room in the Champions League. For example at the final against Magnitogorsk in the Seedamm in Rapperswil.
–
How did Geering react?
He understands me and has congratulated me. It’s a shame if this path comes to an end. But it’s a huge motivation for me to throw everything in again.
–
«Grönborg also congratulated me. He said it was always nice to have the decision in your own hands. ”
What did coach Rikard Grönborg say?
He also congratulated me. He said it was always nice to be in control of the decision. It was important to me to decide for myself. I didn’t want it to be said: it’s about time he packed up. But Grönborg also knows that this will not change anything for me in the next games, this season.
–
They got the last two ZSC wins against them SCL Tigers (5:2) and Lugano (4:1). Didn’t that make the decision even more difficult for you?
No. As I said: I’m glad I’m back on the road to success. I have invested a lot again. It started in the summer with an extra trainer. And every victory gives me confidence. This is extremely important, as 95 percent of a goalie takes place in the head. I hope I can see this through to the end.
–
Is there a degree that you have in mind?
(laughs) You should never ask a hockey player that. One takes day after day. But of course it would be nice if I could finish the last game with a win. And you know what that means.
–
Simon Graf is deputy Head of the sports department and has been reporting on ice hockey and tennis for over 20 years. He studied history and German at the University of Zurich and wrote several sports books, in 2018 a bestseller about Roger Federer.
Found a bug? Report it now.
–
