Lukas Jutkiewicz's final Birmingham City press conference: Davies chat, secret transfer reveal & what's next

Lukas Jutkiewicz couldn’t have had a better final home appearance for Birmingham City.

The 36-year-old striker may not have scored in his last-ever game at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, and he may have only played 20 minutes, but it was a truly remarkable day that he will cherish for the rest of his life.

Blues thrashed Mansfield Town 4-0 in the Birmingham sunshine to shatter Wolverhampton Wanderers’ League One points record. Chris Davies’ men then ended their long wait to lift the League One trophy in front of a sold-out St Andrew’s crowd.

Club captain Krystian Bielik made the wholesome decision to let Jutkiewicz join in with the initial lift alongside vice-skipper Christoph Klarer. It was a truly magical moment and one that will live long in the memory.

Once ‘the Juke’ had drunk in as much adoration from Bluenoses as possible - as well as plenty of champagne, no doubt - he ventured into the press room for what was likely his final-ever press conference as a professional footballer.

Answering questions from Birmingham World and the Birmingham Mail, here’s every word Jutkiewicz said.

How do you describe the emotions after today?

“It’s very difficult to sum it up. It’s a pretty special day all round, from a team perspective as well, to win a league the way that we have is pretty impressive. To be able to share that moment with the fans is really special.

“They deserve it more than anyone, they have suffered in recent times, so to have a day like this feels like the proper start of a new era and what will hopefully be a successful and upward trajectory for us.”

What was the trophy lift experience like? The perfect way to end?

“What a way to finish up. I don’t think I could have pictured walking away when I came nine years ago, to have a day like this I don’t think I would have imagined it in my wildest dreams.

“To finally finish playing at St Andrew’s is very emotional for me and my family, we have been through a lot here, and for it to go the way it did today is the perfect script.”

You got a finger on the trophy lift, who decided that?

“He (Bielik) wanted to include myself and Chris Klarer. It’s something I didn’t ask for but it was a lovely touch and I was proud to be asked to do.”

When did you decide you were going to retire?

“It’s always difficult, first of all to admit to yourself that maybe your body is not doing the things that you want it to or it used to be able to do. I think I probably could have played next season, perhaps not at the level this club is going to go to, so that was a big factor as well.

“I wanted to get the promotion done and the league title done, then obviously play at Wembley, before I really thought about it. After that was done, I kind of properly sat down with my family and decided what was best for us going forward.

“The fact that the club really wanted me to stay on was a huge factor in that as well.

“I sit here really content to be honest. Not many players get to have this as the way that they walk away. I’m really proud that’s the case.”

This season ticked some special boxes, didn’t it?

“Sure I would have loved to have played a bit more football, but you’re in a squad that’s just broken the points record for this league. It’s not an easy team to get into.

“Not many people get to decide when they walk away, sometimes the game retires them, so I’m really fortunate that I’m able to do that.”

What’s next?

“Blackpool away! We’ll enjoy this evening, as we should. It felt like this was the real celebration for getting promoted and winning the league.

“We’ve had game after game after game, so it’s been muted celebrations. This today is something everybody has been craving at the football club.

“Then we have to get ready for Blackpool and Cambridge to try and break the 106 record. There’s plenty to play for, then after that take a big deep breath and relax.”

What will you do before the new role?

“I will definitely be taking some time out. My family deserve that and I owe that to them, to spend more time and give more energy to my wife and two kids. That’s going to be special.

“I still have ambitions, I still love the game of football and to be able to be involved is a real privilege.”

When did you tell Chris Davies?

“The manager has been super respectful of me. He’s been honest with me, he’s included me in everything, and I have to be thankful that he’s been that open with me.

“After the Crawley game, on the Saturday we were in, I knew it was a busy week but I wanted to let him know that I’d made my decision before anything went out to the media or anything.

“We sat down in his office and had a chat. It was great and nice to be able to talk to him about that. He made it clear he was really happy that I was staying on at the club, which meant a lot to me. I came out of that meeting feeling good about my decision.”

How does Chris Davies and the squad compare to others you’ve worked with in your career?

“I’ve been fortunate to be in some really good squads, some really tight ones. I said on the pitch afterwards that to be successful, I think it requires a lot of sacrifice from a lot of people. It also requires selfless people investing in each other and we’ve really had that this year.

“You can see within the group that everybody supports each other, everybody roots for each other, no matter their situation. It’s not just the lads that are playing that are happy.

“Of course, when you’re not playing, you’re trying to get in the team. But the boys really look after each other and really root for each other. I think you need that for a successful group.

“The recruitment team have done a great job in not only bringing in good football players, but also in bringing in good characters. That’s going to be important going forward that that’s protected.”

It must be a surreal experience with how much money is spent on transfers - but it takes more than that for success, doesn’t it?

“Yeah, I’ve been at this football club when they’ve spent a lot, a lot of money and not done it properly and have done it in the wrong place, brought in perhaps different types of characters that haven’t been so cohesive.

“It isn’t just as easy as playing Championship Manager and spending a load of money. You have to put them in the right places, you have to have a lot work and a lot of dedication from a lot of people. It’s a credit to everyone.”

Were there times you could’ve left or came close to leaving?

“Yeah, there were times when there was that option. In certain years, that could’ve happened. First of all, through certain managers not wanting me here and wanting to go a different way. I thought I may be going out of the door that way.

“There have been certain times I’ve been playing well and there’s been interest and an option to leave there. But to be honest with you, we’ve been so happy with this football club. From the minute I came in - of course things haven’t been easy but that’s life - we’ve been so settled as a family.

“It’s been a big part of all of our lives for the last nine years now. I was never really wanting to go anywhere, it was always only going to be a case if I was forced out the door. So, I was really happy and delighted that I’m still here.”

I bet you couldn’t have expected all this when you first signed on loan from Burnley…

“No, exactly. I had just recovered from a long-term knee injury, I had ACL injury. It can go different ways when you come back from that sort of injury.

“I very much had a point to prove when I came here, initially on loan. I wanted to make a good impression and hopefully secure a longer-term contract. That happened but I never could’ve envisaged the journey that we’ve been on and certainly would’ve never imagined a day like this to wrap it up.”