Augsburg confirm Gikiewicz and Hahn departures, Strobl retires from football
FC Augsburg were quick to make matters clear with respect to the futures of three players on Friday.
In addition to the already confirmed departure of Daniel Caligiuri, the club announced that expiring contracts of keeper Rafal Gikiewicz and André Hahn would not be renewed.
Bundesliga veteran Tobias Strobl, meanwhile, has confirmed his retirement from football.
FC Augsburg sporting director Stefan Reuter confirmed that the expiring contract of German-Italian winger Daniel Caligiuri would not be renewed several weeks ago. On Friday, Reuter confirmed the departure of two more players sitting on contracts set to expire at the end of the current campaign.
In addition to the already confirmed departure of Daniel Caligiuri, the club announced that expiring contracts of keeper Rafal Gikiewicz and André Hahn would not be renewed.
Bundesliga veteran Tobias Strobl, meanwhile, has confirmed his retirement from football.
Thirty-two year-old former German international André Hahn will also not be returning. Reuter also quickly confirmed the future of long-time keeper Rafal Gikiewicz as soon reports pertaining to the 35-year-old's contract (circulating for weeks) became more prominent after a Friday presser. The club has decided against retaining Gikiewicz as well.
"We decided not to extend the contract and told Rafal this in a personal conversation prior to the last home game of the season," Reuter noted in a statement released on the club's website, "He'll get the opportunity to say goodbye to the fans on Sunday in the stadium."
Gikiewicz himself issued a statement in which he wished his teammates and the club "all the best in the future". The club also released a statement from Hahn. The once-capped German international noted that "The FCA is very close to my heart."
In another concurrent development, defensive midfielder Tobias Strobl confirmed his expected retirement from football following a pair of injury-plagued years. The club published an emotional statement from the 33-year-old on its website.
"I've had a lot of time to prepare for the end of my career due to my protracted injury," Strobl said, "but the closer the day gets, the more melancholic the thoughts about never being on the football pitch again. But I already have exciting projects in mind that I will devote myself to in the future. I wish FCA all the best."
Das Quartett wird am Sonntag vor Anpfiff offiziell verabschiedet. So erhalten alle #FCA-Fans die Möglichkeit, die Spieler mit dem verdienten Applaus zu würdigen!
— FC Augsburg (@FCAugsburg) May 19, 2023
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