Contract will not be extended beyond the end of the season
(Press Department Eintracht Frankfurt Fussball AG) Eintracht Frankfurt says THANK YOU. THANK YOU for 14 years in the SGE jersey. Because Alexander Meier will no longer play for the eagle bearers in the future. His contract expires as planned on June 30, 2018. This was agreed upon by the sporting management and the player by mutual consent. After the Cup victory and the business trip of Fredi Bobic to New York, the agreed conversation was held.
"We know about the merits of Alex Meier", says the sports director: "He has been loyal to Eintracht over the years and has played an active role in turning the club into an established and serious Bundesliga club after a difficult phase." And the final moment could not have been better chosen for the striker, who is revered as a football god by the fans: In the last home game of the past season, he celebrated his comeback after an almost year-long injury break against Hamburger SV with his 119th Bundesliga goal in familiar Meier fashion for a 3-0 final score. Last Saturday, the team captain was able to present the trophy in Berlin together with his deputy David Abraham. "There can be no better farewell for a striker than to score a goal like that in front of his own crowd, in a sell-out crowd. I told Alex that this goal is the perfect farewell, garnished with the icing on the cake in Berlin. He has also earned the same", said Fredi Bobic.
When Bobic´ Dienstantritt in the summer of 2016, Eintracht had extended the contract of Alex Meier. Bobic: "We have at all times fulfilled our contractual obligations as befits a deserving player. We think it was fair and appropriate towards Alex. We also communicated cleanly and openly on both sides at all times afterwards. Of course we know that many people would like to see Alex in the Eintracht jersey in the coming years. But we have to say that for sporting reasons we are aiming for a change and want to focus on younger players. After a long injury break, he has fought his way back in a highly professional and ambitious manner. Alex understands that and he knows he is always welcome at his Eintracht."
In the past two years, Meier made 26 competitive appearances due to injury. "Eintracht Frankfurt was my sporting home for over 14 years and it always meant a lot to me to play for this club. I am grateful for the time with the eagle on my chest and for the many great moments. Everyone knows that I would have liked to continue playing for the SGE. But of course I respect the club's decision," said Alex Meier, who would like to continue chasing the ball himself: "I feel fit, have worked very hard for my comeback in recent months and want to continue playing football. That's the most important thing for me."
Even if Alexander Meier will not be seen in the Eintracht jersey next year, the comeback of the 1.94 meter tall goal scorer with legend status is certain. After his active career, Meier has a follow-up contract in Frankfurt. In which function, whether as a coach in youth football or as a brand ambassador - or in a completely different role - he will decide. That is the agreement. Eintracht Frankfurt plan to officially bid farewell to Alexander Meier during the Super Cup against FC Bayern Munich. He has also been guaranteed a farewell game
