Footballer previously affiliated with St. Pauli making his return to the league competition
Marcel Halstenberg Makes a Stirring Return to Grassroots Football
Marcel Halstenberg, the former Germany international and twice DFB Cup winner with RB Leipzig, has made a surprising return to football just three months after retiring from professional play with Hannover 96. The 33-year-old defender-turned-offensive midfielder has joined his former youth club, Germania Grasdorf, in the Kreisliga, a lower league situated near Hannover.
Halstenberg's debut in the Kreisliga immediately attracted significant attention and excitement among fans, boosting spectator numbers noticeably at local matches. More than 400 spectators watched his first match, an increase from the usual 100, as Halstenberg scored his first goal in the match by converting a penalty, approximately 20 minutes into the game.
The district of Grasdorf is part of the city of Laatzen, located on the outskirts of Hannover. Halstenberg's return to the pitch at the Kreisliga level brought a surge of enthusiasm in the local football community, highlighting his continued impact despite dropping down several tiers from professional Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga play.
Halstenberg had officially retired from professional football at Hannover 96 in the summer of 2025 but did not intend to step away from playing entirely. His post-retirement career began with a transfer to a different club, for a fee of 3.5 million euros.
Meanwhile, speculation continues to swirl about a potential Bundesliga star transferring to the Premier League. According to recent reports, the transfer amount for this player is 85 million euros.
Halstenberg won the DFB Cup twice with RB Leipzig, in the years 2022 and 2023. Before joining Leipzig, he played for St. Pauli from 2013 to 2015.
In his professional career, Halstenberg played 165 Bundesliga games. During his debut match in the Kreisliga, he wore jersey number 23. The match was against SV Weetzen on the first league matchday of the season.
Read also:
- Court petitions to reverse established decision on same-sex marriage legalization
- Commemoration of 200 Days of American Resurgence Unveiled
- Minister Bärbel Bas expresses doubts about her tenure as a minister following a recent interview during the summer.
- Politicians from both Republican and Democratic parties are urging President Trump to maintain the security agreement with Australia and the United Kingdom.
