"I appreciate" - Lukas Jutkiewicz issues Birmingham City message ahead of post-retirement role | OneFootball

Jutkiewicz will take up a new role in B9 after playing his final game in royal blue

Lukas Jutkiewicz has spoken as a Birmingham City player for the final time, as the cult-hero bowed out in a 2-1 victory over Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium.

The 36-year-old has been the constant link between troubled and exciting times at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, with Saturday's further record-breaking success for Chris Davies' men the last of his 357 games in royal blue, as the club ended the League One season on an astounding 111-point haul, as well as accumulating the most victories in an EFL season with 34.

'The Juke,' as he has become known by Bluenoses, will take up a new role within the club that is yet to be announced as they prepare for life back in the Championship. They have also been tipped by many to have a crack at back-to-back promotions as a result of Knighthead Capital Management's investment.

After lifting the third-tier title alongside captain Krystian Bielik and regular on-pitch skipper, Christoph Klarer, last Sunday in B9, the striker also forced the last of Birmingham's 84 league goals this term against Neil Harris' team, with the winner eventually being credited as a Kell Watts own-goal.

Lukas Jutkiewicz issues final message as a Birmingham City player ahead of post-retirement role

Jutkiewicz played 27 times for Blues this season, although only five of those were from the start - none of which also came in the league.

Whilst those who made the trip down to Cambridgeshire in what was the side's 60th and final game of a memorable, yet gruelling, campaign, would have loved to have seen the 82nd-minute strike be awarded as the striker's 69th goal for the club, he would issue his final message as a player post-match, issuing praise on his teammates who have gone down in history for so many reasons.

“I thought it was my goal! It was a good ball in and I’ve tried to put a bit of pressure on the defender and hopefully it’s through a combination of both of us. Hopefully they can give it to me," he told Birmingham Live in reference to the own-goal.

“Whilst you’re aware of the finality when you come onto the pitch, still embedded in me is the professionalism of trying to win the game. You want to help the team, I would never want it to turn into a sideshow," Jutkiewicz said after grabbing most of the attention at full-time.

“I appreciate everyone is trying to cross the ball for me, but first and foremost I want us to win the game. That’s where your brain takes you and that’s where my energy was.

“Then, once the finality of the whistle goes, that’s it and it comes crashing down. There was a little outburst of emotion that is certainly not usual for me, but it was a nice moment to be able to thank my teammates.”

“I spoke to them about how much they mean to me and how much this season has meant to me, despite not playing as much as I would have liked," the forward explained.

“They have got a really selfless group in there that really work and fight for each other. You can’t be successful without that.”

Birmingham City supporters are in for an exciting summer as Championship beckons

Exactly a year ago, those inside St Andrew's were left to face the numb feeling of relegation to the third-tier for the first time since 1995. But, as their points total showcases, the club have only been operating as a third-tier club when it comes to divisional status.

Relegation only enhanced Tom Wagner's drive to make a success of his rebuilding job, as shown by a record-breaking spending spree, re-investment in St Andrew's and continued discussions over the proposed 'Sports Quarter' complex in East Birmingham.

After breaking so many records, the American has hinted that Jay Stansfield's club-high transfer fee could be smashed once more as the Championship awaits, with FLW exclusively revealing that a £30,000 per week contract offer for Kwame Poku is being prepared, as well as talk of a reunion with former striker, Che Adams.

Following a successful first season as a manager, Davies will hope his side can only add to their momentum and compete strongly against the likes of Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Southampton and whoever loses out in the play-offs, with plenty of high-profile sides involved in the post-season lottery.