Eintracht Frankfurt have completed another important step as they look beyond the current season. Club stalwart Makoto Hasebe has committed to the Eagles, who are currently fourth in the Bundesliga, for another year. Hasebe, Frankfurt’s longest-serving player together with Timothy Chandler, has extended his expiring contract by a further 12 months until 30 June 2022.
The versatile defensive player has proven to be a key figure once again in what is his seventh campaign at Eintracht. Hasebe has made 228 appearances since arriving at the club in 2014, more than anyone else in the current squad. The 2018 Asian International Player of the Year also recently became the Asian with the most appearances in Germany’s top flight (331). The former Japan international, who represented his country 114 times, has featured in 20 matches this season, despite being the second-oldest player in the league at the age of 37. Only three of his teammates top the 1,695 minutes he’s spent on the pitch.
Board member Fredi Bobic said: “Makoto Hasebe is a model professional. He works very hard on his body and puts professional football before everything. The fact that at his age, he’s still a key player and still indispensable to the team, is down to his highly professional attitude more than anything. He’s a perfect leader and a top performer for us on and off the pitch, which is why everyone is convinced that he’ll bring joy to Eintracht again next season.”
