Austrian stopper Martin Hinterger stunned German football and his homeland yesterday (Thursday) when he announced his retirement from football when he was only 29, about a month after winning the Europa League trophy with Eintracht Frankfurt after a final victory over Glasgow Rangers.
While in his retirement announcement, Hinterger, who also played in Salzburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Augsburg, hinted at severe mental difficulties and depression, in his homeland claiming his motives were his desire to integrate into an extreme right-wing party affiliated with neo-Nazi organizations.
"I had thoughts of ending my career at the end of the season already at the beginning of autumn, because I could not maintain stability in all games. I celebrated winning the Europa League in a frenzy, because even then I knew it was the last victory of my career and wanted to celebrate it with the crowd , "Hinterger wrote in the retirement announcement.
Eintracht Frankfurt defender Martin Hinteregger has decided to end his professional career at 29.
The Austrian was in the news in recent weeks due to business connections with an Austrian far-right politician.
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In Germany and Austria, his retirement was reported in shock, but quite a few local reporters suspect that the reason for his retirement is Hinterger's desire to get involved in politics in an extreme right-wing party together with his childhood friend - Heinrich Schikel.
Shikel was formerly part of the Graz City Council on behalf of the Austrian National Freedom Party and became famous following his contacts with members of the country's far right.
Also, in his youth, Shikel was a member of the neo-Nazi National Front organization, which was outlawed as early as 1992.
Hinterger (second from left) celebrates winning the Europa League, Photo: EPI
Hinterger, who organized a football tournament in his hometown of Sternitz, a tournament he attended, dismissed allegations of close ties with controversial organizations and said, among other things: "It is unbelievable that an anonymous person could write such things about me. "I appreciated and thanked everyone who helped, and supported the Hint Cup. 'I just want a football tournament, I have no idea about his past and any business relationship he has."
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