NEWS
Rangnick's Companion and Leipzig Legend Retires
A "legend" of the Rasenballer ends his professional career; he achieved two promotions with the club. He also played for the DFB national team.
Diego Demme (34) has ended his career. "At some point, the moment comes when you have to say goodbye to something that has accompanied you almost your entire life. And now that moment has come for me," writes the midfielder on "Instagram".
He became known primarily for his time at RB Leipzig. After starting his career at Bielefeld and Paderborn, he moved to the then third-tier club in Saxony in January 2014.
With the club, he achieved promotion to the German Bundesliga. He made 214 appearances for the Saxons and is considered a legend there.
Rangnick Coached Leipzig to Promotion
He also has a special connection to ÖFB national team coach Ralf Rangnick, who, as Leipzig's sporting director, was involved in signing Demme in 2014.
During the 2015/16 promotion to the German Bundesliga, the ÖFB coach also served as head coach. In 2018/19, Rangnick became coach of the Saxons once again.
Between 2016 and 2018, the team was managed by Styrian Ralph Hasenhüttl. During that time, Demme made his only senior international appearance for Germany, playing for over 14 minutes against San Marino (7-0) in June 2017.
In January 2020, after six years, he left the club for SSC Napoli, where he became Italian champion and cup winner. In the past two seasons, the German-Italian was under contract with Hertha BSC.
