Birmingham City urged to consider new role for "Blues legend" | OneFootball

FLW's Birmingham fan pundit, has praised Lukas Jutikiewicz as a "club legend" and is keen for him to stay in some sort of capacity next season.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Lukas Jutkiewicz has been a Birmingham City icon during his long St. Andrew's tenure but with the striker's contract expiring this summer, his Blues exit could be close.

The 35-year-old has endured a successful eight-season spell in the West Midlands, but his time at the club is currently coming to an end in the summer of 2025.

Jutkiewicz has been the key frontman for Blues in the last seven years, scoring plenty of goals, popping up in big moments, and also providing a creative spark at times.

Now in the twilight of his career, his game time has become limited so both player and club have a decision to make with next summer in mind.

So far this campaign, Jutkiewicz has made one start and appeared off the bench on six occasions in all competitions, highlighting where he is in the pecking order.

Birmingham City should offer Lukas Jutkiewicz coaching role

FLW's Birmingham City fan pundit Mike Gibbs was quizzed on whether he should be handed a new deal or offloaded and revealed he hopes to see the forward stay on at St Andrew's but in a coaching capacity.

"I don't think we should be offloading him or getting him to sign a new deal," he said. "I think he'll retire at the end of the season and I think we've given him a year and should honour that deal by keeping him around, a great character around the dressing room and the fans love him.

"I think the best thing would be for him to see out his contract and the likelihood is he will retire. I'd love to see him join the coaching staff or have some sort of role within the club because he's a Blues legend, he's the longest-serving player, and he embodies the club in terms of the way he plays.

"He's had such a good rapport with the fans, so I'd like to see him stay post the end of his contract in some capacity."

Jutkiewicz would struggle in the current Blues team but could flourish at a different club

With the current forward options at Birmingham, it's no surprise that Jutkiewicz has found opportunities scarce this term.

Alfie May, Jay Stansfield, and Lyndon Dykes are strong striking options at League One level, which leaves the 35-year-old fourth choice and he may fall further down the pecking order still should Blues win promotion back to the Championship.

That means the striker may have to look elsewhere if he wants to keep playing. Given his EFL experience, he should have suitors in League One or League Two if that's the direction he decides to take.

Keeping him at Birmingham as part of the coaching staff would be a smart move by the club's owners but they will need to ensure that Davies wants him as part of the setup.

It feels like this season is going to be Jutkiewicz's last as a Blues player but time will tell whether it's the end of his association with the club.