An emotional interview from Birmingham’s Lukas Jutkiewicz has emerged as he reflects on his decision to retire from playing.
Last week, the 36-year-old, announced his retirement from football at the end of the 2024/25 season, concluding a nine-year tenure with the club.
He says the call was driven by his limited playing time this season—only four starts in cup competitions and 14 substitute appearances in League One, and his recognition that he could no longer match the club’s upward trajectory.
The farewell at St Andrew’s was deeply moving for Jutkiewicz, who described the final match as “the perfect script.”
The sell-out crowd celebrated his 357 appearances, 69 goals, and a League One title, with fans and teammates honouring his legacy.
🔵 Lukas Jutkiewicz enters the field for his final-ever home Birmingham City appearance. #BCFC pic.twitter.com/WCfaCNRxSG
— Charlie Haffenden (@JournoHaff) April 27, 2025
OPEN LETTER ON RETIRING:
I have taken the decision to finish my playing career at the end of this season.
After 20 seasons it’s incredibly hard to say goodbye to playing the game I love, but I feel it is the right time – for me and my family. While stepping away from playing isn’t easy, I am excited about what lies ahead for this football club and the role I will play in its future.
I want to thank my wife Sophie, you have been a rock throughout my playing career, celebrating the highs with me and helping me to bounce back from the lows. Your support has meant everything to me.
Birmingham holds a special place in my family’s heart. Our children, Jakob and Amelie, were born here, it’s where we have built our lives, and this city will forever be a part of our story. I’m incredibly proud that my journey as a footballer ends at such a special club.
Thank you to everyone who I have worked with throughout my time at Birmingham City – staff and team-mates alike. It’s been a privilege to share the pitch and dressing room with you.
To you, the Bluenoses – we’ve been through a lot together! Thank you for your unwavering support, you’ve made me feel like one of your own. You are the heart of this club and have been a constant source of motivation.
The loyalty and passion you have shown during turbulent times has been inspiring and I can think of no set of fans more deserving of the bright future and optimism that the new era of this football club has brought.
I’ve always strived to represent you the way that you want on the pitch, and it has been the greatest honour to wear the shirt 356 times. It is something I have never taken for granted.
This club has given me so much, and I am deeply grateful that I will play my final professional game with a Birmingham City badge on my chest. Birmingham City is not just a football club to me – it’s my home.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to use the experience I’ve gained and the lessons I’ve learned throughout my career to help Birmingham City continue to push forward in a new capacity. Being asked to contribute further to this club was a very proud moment for me, and I will embrace this new chapter with the same commitment and dedication I gave on the pitch.
For now, I’m looking forward for the last few games and helping the team to finish this special season as strongly as possible.
Thanks again.
Keep Right On, ‘til the end of the road.
Juke.
HIS SPEECH TO THE FANS AFTER THE GAME:
“In terms of scripts, you couldn’t write it any better,” he said.
“To play in my last game here at St. Andrew’s and lift a trophy is the perfect way to walk away.
“I just wanted to make sure that they (the fans) knew how much their support really has been appreciated. Genuinely, from myself and my family, throughout some really difficult times at this football club, they kept showing up, they kept bringing the noise, getting us over the line in difficult situations.
“It’s become my life here and I just wanted to let them know that I’m really, really grateful.
“I felt a huge burden and a big weight on my shoulders throughout turbulent times here. It felt like we were swimming against the tide sometimes, people would come and go, and I felt a massive responsibility to help try and keep the club above water really.
“It was an incredibly proud moment to be asked to stay on and help contribute with everything I’ve learned over the last 20 seasons in football, to try and help push this club into what’s going to be an exciting new era.”
The perfect way to sign out. 🏆 💙 pic.twitter.com/ZzefdgL3oK
— (C) Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) April 27, 2025
The King and his silverware. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Wu5ilXsJMo
— (C) Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) April 27, 2025
WHAT THE CLUB SAID:
Birmingham City can confirm that long-serving striker Lukas Jutkiewicz will retire from football at the end of the 2024-25 season.
The 36-year-old, who has spent the past nine years with Blues and made 356 appearances, will now take on a new role with the club which will be announced in due course.
With a 19-year playing career drawing to a close, the man affectionately known as Jukey, has etched himself into Blues folklore for his immense contribution both on and off the pitch.
Initially joining on loan from Burnley in August 2016, he swiftly became a fans’ favourite at the club and made the move permanent four months later.
Playing under 15 different managers, whether it be permanent or interim, Jutkiewicz has been ever-present for Birmingham City during some of the club’s most difficult periods.
He has also been a shining light for his work off the pitch in the local community, leading by example and embodying what it means to represent the football club.
After the highs and lows, it is perhaps fitting that his career ends in what has been a record-breaking season for Birmingham City.
Despite seeing his playing time restricted this season, Jutkiewicz has been a mainstay in Chris Davies’ squad over the course of the campaign and made his 350th appearance for the club in the home win over Wycombe Wanderers in March.
He proudly sits in the top 15 for all-time Birmingham City appearances, scoring 69 goals, and was the club’s top scorer in three different seasons (2016/17, 2019/20 and 2020/21).
Director of Football, Craig Gardner, commented: “Firstly, I’d like to congratulate Jukey on a fantastic career. A powerful frontman, he gave absolutely everything on the pitch and is a credit to our profession.
“His loyalty and love for the club was evident to everyone throughout what was often turbulent times, and he always embraced his role in the community programme and more recently with the Foundation.
“As a former teammate of his, I’m delighted he will be remaining with us as he takes the next step in his career.
I have no doubt that he will be an overwhelming success and will be as committed and hard working off the pitch, as he was on it. Lukas Jutkiewicz’s career will always be associated with Birmingham City Football Club.”
Birmingham City interim CEO Jeremy Dale said: “When people think of Birmingham City, the name of Lukas Jutkiewicz is never far away.
“He is held in the highest regard by everyone at the club and he is loved by our fans like no other player in recent history.
“Even though his time as a player is ending, we are delighted that he will be taking up a new role.
“To spend nine years at one club is a rarity in the modern game, and not only has he led by example on the pitch with his performances, but he has so often been an ambassador off the field within the local community.
“On behalf of everyone at Birmingham City, I want to thank Jukey for everything he has given the club in his nine years as a player here and wish both him and his family the best of success for the next phase of his journey with Blues.”
And if you were in any doubt about what Lukas Jutkiewicz scoring for Birmingham City means to the fans, just watch this. 💙 pic.twitter.com/F1mgQiiWXN
— (C) Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) April 5, 2025
Twitter users gave their reaction amid an emotional interview from Birmingham’s Lukas Jutkiewicz on his decision to retire…
@HW_247: As Jukey said in his speech on the pitch, it’s not goodbye, it’s see you around 💙
@McAuleyJohn: Thank you Jukey, classy as you’ve been since day one 💪🏻💙
@joshmac90: Easy to underestimate how much this guy has done for this club. Wagner said when he came in, he would never have bought us in league 1. He kept us up on his own so many times. No Juke, no Wagner, maybe no Blues. So pleased he got to have his moment, no one deserved it more #bcfc
@delves1: Yes we will have better players we have had better players, but I truly believe we will NEVER have another player rock up on a short term loan and spend 9 years with us, we will never have someone come into the club as a player and represent the fans on the pitch like jukey has. Ran himself into the ground for our club for our badge. What a man #KRO // #BCFC
@JustinG92785123: A player who has contributed so much on and off the pitch. An excellent striker who worked so hard in poor teams that created nothing for him. Off the pitch, gave his time generously to everyone and never complained. Thank you Lukas Jutkiewicz for all you’ve done #bcfc
@NathanRKRO: Proper club hero the king 👑 and so damn happy he is staying with the club. There better be the loudest JUUUUUUKE on Sunday I want it to be heard all across Brum
@TheHappyAbode: The perfect time to go out, the perfect way to go out. A man that’s made an enormous contribution throughout some of the worst years in the clubs history. It’s scary to think where the club could be without that. Delighted he’s staying with the club too.
@BluenoseSypher: 👑🐐 So happy that Juke is sticking around at the club. He is so passionate that it would be a shame to lose him. He has the experience of seeing this club in its worst state. He won’t want to see it back there. Onwards and upwards
@JoeSmit40807159: Great to hear that Jukey will be staying with Blues after his playing career. He epitomises what this club is all about, every time he plays he leaves everything on the pitch. A proper professional 💙
@krubot3: Knew this day would eventually come but still makes me a little sad. Glad to know he’ll still be at the club though this doesn’t mean the hard times are over. Instead in his new role he’ll need to prove himself all over again but this time all of blues are behind him KRO Jukey 💙
