2. Bundesliga

Simon Terodde: Bundesliga 2's all-time record goalscorer

01.07.2024

Simon Terodde overtook Dieter Schatzschneider's previous division best 153 goals in 2021 and he went on to stretch his lead at the top of the second tier's all-time scoring list to 177 before retiring in 2024.

Schatzschneider was a legendary goalscorer for Hannover, especially in the late 1970s and early '80s yet he would score his last goal in Bundesliga 2 in May 1987 for Fortuna Cologne.

Many years later, the division had a new main man in the form of Schalke's Terodde. In October 2021, Schatzschneider's record was surpassed as the former Royal Blues' forward hit the top of the scoring charts for the first time.

For many, Terodde being crowned as Bundesliga 2's leading man was always a question of when, not if, such was the Bocholt native's immense efficiency in front of goal. Terodde had it all and was the archetypal striker, being tall, athletic, good in the air and capable of striking with either foot.

Simon Terodde makes a breakthrough at Union Berlin. - imago sportfotodienst

He scored his goals in the second division for Union Berlin (23 goals between 2011 and 2014), Bochum (41 between 2014 and 2016), VfB Stuttgart (25 in 2016/17), Cologne (29 in the 2018/19 season), Hamburg (24 in 2020/21) and most recently Schalke (35 since 2021).

Terodde won the division's top scorer award three times while with Bochum, Stuttgart and Cologne. Only former Karlsruhe player Emanuel Günther achieved the same number of titles. With Stuttgart (2017), Cologne (2019) and Schalke (2022), Terodde was second-division champion.

Simon Terodde was always on the lookout for the next goal. - imago images / Sven Simon

Despite his success, however, the striker never really matched the numbers he produced in the second tier while competing in the Bundesliga. In 90 top-flight games, he managed 15 goals.