“Eintracht is my club” | OneFootball

Makoto Hasebe talks about his retirement as well as his future at the club, puts the focus on the rest of the season and looks forward to more European nights as a fan.

Makoto Hasebe on ...

… his retirement: “I will retire from football at the end of this season. I’m announcing that today because I want to concentrate on the run-in with the team. We really want to secure sixth place and I’m looking forward to watching Eintracht in European action from the couch next season, or travelling with the great fans and watching the games from the stands. We want to achieve our big goal and I want to celebrate with the fans after the match against Leipzig.”

… his decision: “It was a hard decision but it’s the right point in time. I’ve noticed that I need more time to recover at 40, and it’s also a mental thing. Having worked in professional football for 22 years, it feels a bit strange at the moment but I'm not afraid that I'll regret my decision. I don't regret anything in my life. (laughs)”

… special moments: “I’ve experienced lots of nice moments. I’ve become a German champion, DFB Cup winner and Europa League winner. I’ve captained my country Japan at three World Cups. There have been hard times too, though, like relegation with Nürnberg or serious injuries. But for now I just want to concentrate on the match on Friday and the run-in. We can gladly talk about my career after the season has finished.”

… his plan for the future: “I’ve spoken with Markus [Krösche] and the director of our academy [Alex Richter]. The details are still to be clarified but as things stand, I’m staying at Eintracht. I’m very glad about that – Eintracht is my club. I already have my B+ coaching licence and I really like the DFB's coaching education. My family and I can well imagine staying in Germany for longer. It’s our second home. I’ll certainly also fly to Japan a few times a year. I’ve already spoken with Charly Körbel and he said I should drop by the legends team. I’m keen to play in that.”

… Friday’s match against Augsburg and the run-in: “On Friday it’s just about emotion, passion and tenacity: that’s what we have to show. We’re well aware of the importance of the match and we’re determined to win, I can assure you. We senior players lead the way and can help the young players on and off the pitch.”