Eintracht contract dissolved: Martin Hinteregger surprisingly ended his career

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Martin Hinteregger

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Soeren Stache / dpa

Eintracht Frankfurt's Bundesliga professional Martin Hinteregger is retiring from professional football.

The club announced this surprising decision by the 29-year-old on Thursday.

"I enjoyed the victory in the Europa League so much because I knew then that it would be my last big victory celebration with the fantastic fans in this city, which has become my second home," Hinteregger is quoted as saying in the statement .

He had already thought about ending his career last fall.

The contract with Europa League winners Frankfurt, which is valid until June 30, 2024, will be suspended.

This was initially reported by the "Bild-Zeitung".

Sports director Markus Krösche said: "Martin's decision came as a surprise to us, but he explained his perspective and reasons to us in an impressive and convincing manner.

So there was no question for us to comply with this sportingly painful but humanly understandable wish.«

Hinteregger was recently heavily criticized because a collaboration with a former FPÖ municipal councilor who is said to have had contacts with the "Identitarian Movement" became public.

The Austrian Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Combating Terrorism writes about the »Identitarian Movement«: »The ›Identitarian Movement« can be cited as an example of what is known as modernized right-wing extremism.« There was also talk of a ban in Austria.

Hinteregger distanced himself from his business partner and ended the collaboration, but again made controversial statements in further interviews.

ngo/dpa/sid