Simon Handle, a veteran of the 3. Liga, is hanging up his boots after the current season. The 33-year-old winger announced his retirement on Friday, bringing an end to a career that spanned top divisions in Austria and Germany’s second tier. However, his most lasting legacy will be at Viktoria Köln, where he became a club icon.
Trained at Red Bull Salzburg, Handle rose to prominence with SV Grödig, helping the club secure promotion to the Austrian Bundesliga and a spot in the Europa League qualifiers under coach Adi Hütter. From the 2015/16 season, he moved to Germany’s lower divisions, where he achieved promotion to the 2. Bundesliga with Erzgebirge Aue, though he was initially loaned to SV Elversberg. In 2017/18, he joined Viktoria Köln, then a fourth-tier side, and delivered 17 goal contributions to guide them to the 3. Liga.
Since then, Handle has made 309 appearances for Viktoria, the second-highest in club history, trailing only Mike Wunderlich. In the 3. Liga itself, he has featured 264 times, ranking fifth among active players in the division. Only 29 other professionals have recorded more than 260 appearances in the league.
Viktoria Köln’s sporting director, Franz Wunderlich, who is also the father of record-appearance holder Mike, expressed regret over Handle’s decision. “It’s not about how you arrive, but what people think when you leave,” Wunderlich said. “The fact that Simon is the second all-time appearance maker behind Mike speaks volumes about his role here. He’s not just a superb footballer, but a wonderful person—a true professional who always gave everything for the club and the team.”
Wunderlich acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, adding, “Simon is having one of his best seasons, in top form both physically and technically. He’s almost irreplaceable for the squad and the dressing room. Simon and the club will always be closely connected. We wish him all the best for the future, and the doors in Höhenberg will remain open for him.”
Handle himself reflected on his departure, saying, “Our journey together isn’t over yet. The next three matches against Aachen, Duisburg, and Fortuna hold special meaning for me. I promise we’ll give everything to get the maximum results.”
