Makoto Hasebe announces retirement from playing to focus on coaching at Eintracht Frankfurt

“Now it’s time to break up.”

The oldest professional in the Bundesliga, Makoto Hasebe (40), stopped playing for Eintracht after this season. That’s not surprising. Recently, the Japanese have rarely played. “Then it becomes harder on the body. I have experienced many beautiful moments. Now I want to take the next step.”

Hasebe will complete his coaching training and then continue working as a coach at Eintracht: “I have already spoken to board member Markus Krösche and NLZ boss Alexander Richter.”

This marks the end of an unparalleled career of more than 22 years – one marked by titles, records but also a few injuries, particularly to the knees, and relegation by Nuremberg.

The facts: To date, a total of 691 professional games for four clubs, as well as 114 international games for Japan. The successes: Champion, two-time cup winner, Asian Champions League winner, Supercup and League Cup winner with Urawa. Games with Wolfsburg. Cup winner and Euro League winner with Eintracht. With Japan in the top 16 at the home World Cup in 2002.

But it is more important than statistics the man Makoto Hasebe. There are only a few model stars like the veteran defender of Eintracht. Be it his teammates, the coaches, the officials, everyone praises his professionalism, work ethic, politeness and courtesy.

He played 303 competitive games for Eintracht Frankfurt. A number that nobody thought was possible when he arrived from Nuremberg in 2014. But almost ten years later, Hasebe, who first played in the middle of the defensive park and has redefined a career libero as a defensive leader, still in the league.

“And it’s not over yet,” he explains in his press conference, “I’m only announcing my decision now so that I and my team can focus on the spurt finally in the Bundesliga. We definitely want to get 6th place!” And then he laughs: “I would be very happy if I could travel through​​​​​​Europe with Eintracht on my couch in the living room next season…”

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But he also knows how difficult it will be. The new Eintracht is struggling through lead misery. Too many key players, such as captain Rode, are injured – or on the bench, like himself.

Hasebe: “The mood here is not entirely positive. We have a lot of young players, a new generation. They could be my children. I have experienced this situation many times and we have only one chance to get out of it: we can only do it together! As a team! With the fans! With the whole city! But I don’t expect a response from the fans first – I expect us as a team to show the response on the pitch! Whoever is on the field, we must enter the duels with emotion and passion from the start. Then the fire​​​​​​in the stadium comes back! And I can guarantee that against Augsburg.