More than 20 years at Freiburg: Midfielder Höfler renews contract

Midfielder Nicolas Höfler has renewed his contract at Freiburg which will extend his time there to more than 20 years, the Bundesliga club said on Monday.

Höfler, 34, arrived in 2005 as a 15-year-old and joined the first team in 2010. He spent two years on loan at Erzgebirge Aue 2011-2013 and has now featured in 351 Freiburg matches for third place in the club’s all-time appearance list.

He has lost his place in the starting 11 this season under new coach Julian Schuster, featuring in only one full match while coming on in eight others in all competitions.

Freiburg gave no details in their renewal statement in which board member for sport Jochen Saier said that Höfler was “still a pillar of our team with his experience and extremely professional approach.”

Höfler said that Freiburg “has been more than just my sporting home for almost 20 years – and yet I’m not looking back, but ahead.

“I still really want to make a difference here together with the lads and achieve our goals. I will do everything I can to achieve this and I am delighted about the contract extension.”