Hasebe signs long-term deal with Frankfurt
38-year-old Makoto Hasebe has committed his long-term future to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Kevin Trapp and Makoto Hasebe. | Photo: GEPA Pictures/Sven Sonntag |
The 38-year-old's contract, which was due to expire this summer, has been extended until 2027. He will spend one more year as a player before taking on a coaching role in the summer of 2023.
"Makoto Hasebe is a player who any professional club could only wish for," commented Eintracht board member for sport Markus Krösche.
"Despite his age, his abilities on the pitch meet the high standards of the Bundesliga. Personality-wise, he plays an important role for our youngsters in particular. Makoto is a strategist and a calming influence in our team, and his character is impeccable.
"It's important to us that Makoto remains an example, an important point of contact and a role model for the long haul, and that we can give him his first taste of being part of a first-team coaching set-up."
Hasebe, who joined Frankfurt from Nürnberg in 2014, said:
"Frankfurt has become my home in recent years and Eintracht are my club. We've achieved a lot together in the last eight years and I’m delighted that our journey is set to continue. I still feel fit and able to play football at a high level. Eintracht are also giving me the opportunity to take my first steps as a top-level coach, which I’m very grateful for."