On Wednesday, Makoto Hasebe was actually a few minutes late for the press conference.

Actually unimaginable.

After all, the professional soccer player stands for virtues that have made him indispensable at Eintracht for years: punctuality, precision, perfection.

Japan's most famous soccer player turned 38 in mid-January.

Ralph Weitbrecht

sports editor.

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Hasebe himself can hardly believe that he is still on the ball - and that there is no end in sight to his great career.

Certainly: There is a contractual agreement that he will play another season in the summer, then hang up his shoes and then work as a coach, brand ambassador or whatever for the good of Eintracht.

But that's not for sure.

Especially not the time of his playful career end.

Maybe he'll make the 40 full.

On Wednesday, during a conversation with the reporters in the catacombs of the Frankfurt Arena, Hasebe recalled Claudio Pizarro.

"He was still playing for Werder when he was 42."

Hasebe is Eintracht's long-running favorite.

The man who enjoys the greatest esteem, is a sought-after conversation partner for young and old, and of whom, for example, coach Oliver Glasner speaks with admiration and respect.

"I'm incredibly happy," said Hasebe in the middle of a working week, at the end of which the difficult away game at relegation contenders Hertha BSC is on the program on Saturday.

“I said five years ago that I wanted to quit.

And now I'm still playing.

I've been with Eintracht Frankfurt for so long." In the summer it will be eight years.

Record in the incomparable career of the exemplary professional footballer Makoto Hasebe.

“Being a coach is different”

In trying to look a little into the future, Hasebe remained vague.

A coaching job in the youth or professional sector?

A lot is possible.

Also that he passed the last exams at the end of May and then received the B license.

"And then I also want to do the A license and the football teacher," he said.

All in good time.

Because: "I like to play football best." Hasebe's plan is therefore: "I'll just keep going."

Also with the regular trips to the Riederwald in the east of Frankfurt, the home of the club, where its roots are and the youngsters are trained in the performance center.

"I keep checking in on the guys there," said Hasebe, who has a premonition: "Being a coach is different from being a player."

Hasebe knows how important he is, which he has earned through performance and personality.

"I couldn't imagine staying at Eintracht Frankfurt for so long.

I've done a lot for the club, but I've also gotten something from them.

Now I want to give something back to him.” If Hasebe is healthy and fit, Eintracht can rely on their oldest and most experienced player on a weekly basis.

After his unfortunate collision with goalkeeper Kevin Trapp in Stuttgart at the beginning of February, the Japanese currently sees himself at “100 percent again.

I don't feel anything anymore, I'm ready," he said - and then added: "I'm no longer afraid." No longer afraid of headers, of the latent danger of being knocked down again in a duel.

Neither from your own teammate, nor from one of your opponents.

Hasebe did not fail to recognize that Eintracht is "under a bit of pressure".

The game on Saturday at the weak Hertha, where manager Fredi Bobic didn't understand how to put together a real team despite the many hundreds of millions, is the next chance for Frankfurt to create second-round victory number two.

This requires more reliability, power and goal risk.

"We're not consistent enough yet," criticized Hasebe.

"Too few of our players are currently performing at their best." The recipe for getting out of this crisis sounds as simple as it is complicated.

The Eintracht veteran said: "We have to keep thinking positively and stay positive."

"We fought well against Bayern with good tactics." If we add goals against Hertha, it could really turn the tide.

Hasebe wants her very much: "We want to go further up."