Edin Džeko and the 10 oldest goalscorers in Bundesliga 2 history

Edin Džeko came off the bench to net for Schalke on his debut aged 39, making him the oldest goalscorer in Bundesliga 2 history. But who has the legendary Bosnian striker surpassed to take the crown?

1) Edin Džeko
Age upon scoring: 39 years, 314 days
Club: Schalke

Having returned to Germany to join Die Königsblauen after a 15-year hiatus since he was on the books at Wolfsburg, Džeko wasted no time in reminding German football fans of his quality in front of goal and his status as a 'fine wine' finisher.

Replacing Amin Younes in the 67th minute on Matchday 19 of 2025/26, it took the big Bosnian just 20 minutes to strike against Kaiserslautern, expertly bringing down a high ball up from the back with his first touch, before slotting home on the half-volley with his second. 

Watch: Schalke 2-2 Kaiserslautern - highlights

2) Helmut Haller
Age upon scoring: 39 years, 219 days
Club: Augsburg

Going back to the 70s, local lad Haller set his record - which had stood for over 45 years until Džeko shattered it - back in the 1978/79 season, during his third stint with Augsburg, 13 years after he had opened the scoring in West Germany's 1966 World Cup final defeat to England.

Finding the net on Matchday 20 in a 4-1 thrashing of FSV Frankfurt, Haller's goals that season unfortunately fell short in helping the Bavarian side battle for their survival as they were relegated to the Oberliga at the end of the campaign.

A statue was erected outside Augsburg's WWK Arena in 2015 to commemorate Haller, with the inscription reading: "In memory of Helmut Haller: Our city's greatest son". - imago images / Krieger

About the players

10

Edin

Džeko

FC Schalke 04

3) Rudi Bommer
Age upon scoring: 39 years, 75 days
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt

Jumping forward 18 years, it's journeyman defensive midfielder Bommer who occupies third place, thanks to his strike in Frankfurt's 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Lokomotive Leipzig on Matchday 13 of the 1996/97 campaign. 

Although better remembered for his time with Fortuna Düsseldorf, where he won back-to-back DFB Cups in 1979 and 1980, Bommer also made 106 total competitive appearances for Eintracht, scoring five goals. 

Bommer was well loved by the Eintracht faithful, despite arriving in the latter stages of his career, aged 34. - IMAGO / Alfred Harder

4) Karl-Heinz Bente
Age upon scoring: 39 years, 43 days
Club: Freiburg

A true cult hero - especially in Freiburg, where he enjoyed four stints across two clubs (Freiburger FC and SC Freiburg) before going on to manage them both once he had hung up his boots - Bente makes this list thanks to his strike in SC's 2-0 victory over Greuther Fürth on Matchday 13 of the 1980/81 term.

Tragically, Bente died in a car accident on 24 January 1984, not three years after retiring at the end of the 1980/81 season. However, he will always be remembered by fans in the Black Forest, as well as supporters of Eintracht Gelsenkirchen, Preußen Münster, Hessen Kassel and Offenburger FV, where he also spent time throughout his long career.

Bente was a rare example of a player manager, assuming the position during his final season with Freiburger FC between 1978 and 1979. - IMAGO/Pressefoto Rudel/Herbert Rudel

5) Bernhard Trares
Age upon scoring: 38 years, 272 days
Club: Karlsruhe

Claiming the last spot in the top five is Trares, who made 275 Bundesliga 2 appearances across five different clubs (Darmstadt, Alemannia Aachen, 1860 Munich, Waldhof Mannheim and Karlsruhe), scoring 46 goals from defence and midfield. Trares also made 183 top-flight appearances, netting 16 times.

However, the decisive goal came on the penultimate matchday of the 2003/04 season - his last as a player - in a 2-2 away draw against Union Berlin, when Trares grabbed a late equaliser for the Baden outfit. 

A managerial career followed his playing days, with Trares most recently overseeing Mannheim for his second stint until April 2025.

Bernhard Trares made a total of 57 appearances for Karlsruhe, scoring just three goals. - IMAGO / WEREK

6) Wolfgang Steinbach
Age upon scoring: 38 years, 244 days
Club: Oldenburg

7) Hans-Uwe Pilz
Age upon scoring: 38 years, 197 days
Club: Zwickau

8) Sławomir Chałaśkiewicz
Age upon scoring: 38 years, 143 days
Club: Babelsberg

9) Peter Nogly
Age upon scoring: 38 years, 69 days
Club: St. Pauli

10) Souleyman Sané
Age upon scoring: 38 years, 51 days
Club: Wattenscheid

Check out the Bundesliga 2 record books here

About the clubs

Sport-Club Freiburg

Europa-Park Stadion

FC Schalke 04

VELTINS-Arena

FC Augsburg

WWK ARENA

Eintracht Frankfurt

Deutsche Bank Park

Karlsruher SC

BBBank Wildpark