Makoto Hasebe is in his last months as a professional footballer. The 40-year-old Japanese played almost seven hundred official matches in his rich career and is a true Bundesliga veteran, but announced on Wednesday afternoon that he would retire after this season. The Eintracht Frankfurt defender will remain involved with the club in a coaching role after his retirement.

On the official channels of Eintracht Frankfurt, the Japanese player explains his decision: “After 22 years as a professional footballer, it is time to end my active career as a player. I had to think about this decision for a long time, but I think it is the right one.”

?? Makoto Hasebe knows the career duck. After the 700th party, Makoto Hasebe will continue with the profilaufbahn until the end of the season 2023/24. For Eintracht Frankfurt, there were more than 300 performance games. Zur Notification: https://t.co/SD21ctW19d#SGE pic.twitter.com/X0z3u1EMyC

— Eintracht Frankfurt (@Eintracht) April 17, 2024

“I look back with pride on everything I have achieved. During my time at Frankfurt I experienced wonderful moments that I will remember forever. Since day one, I have always felt welcome in Frankfurt and it has felt like a second home. For now, all my focus is on the remaining matches this season,” Hasebe added.

The central defender and defensive midfielder started his career 22 years ago in his home country Japan, where he was under contract with Urawa Red Diamonds. For the Red Devils Hasebe was released until 2007/08, after which he tried his luck in Europe.

The right leg found his new 'home' in VfL Wolfsburg, more than 12,000 kilometers from home. In the north of Germany, the 114-time Japan international played 159 games in all competitions. He managed to score a goal very sporadically (six times), but he achieved his greatest achievement with the club in the 2008/09 season, when that Wolfe became champion of Germany.

After leaving Wolfsburg, he played briefly for FC Nürnberg, before Hasebe joined Eintracht Frankfurt in 2014/15. More than nine years later, the counter is up that Adler in 303 official matches, including the Europa League final won in 2022.

The achievements of our eastern neighbors have not gone unnoticed. For example, he is included in the Bundesliga Legends Network by the German Football Association and is only ahead of Claudio Pizarro (490) and Robert Lewandowski (384) on the list of most games played by a foreign player in the Bundesliga. Hasebe has 383 matches and can therefore still pass the Polish top scorer in the rankings, as there are still five rounds to go in Germany.

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