Ginter: Retiring in Freiburg is my goal

German center-back Matthias Ginter said on Wednesday that he hopes to end his career at Freiburg.

The 32-year-old Ginter came through Freiburg's youth academy and made his Bundesliga debut for the first team on January 21, 2012. He then played for Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach, winning the German Cup and the German Super Cup with the clubs.

In July 2022, Ginter returned to Freiburg on a free transfer. To date, he has made 264 appearances for Freiburg, contributing 20 goals and 19 assists, and helped the team reach the 2025/26 Europa League final.

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports Germany, Ginter revealed his retirement plans for the first time: "Retiring in Freiburg is definitely my goal. That's why I confidently renewed my contract with Freiburg a month ago. I also believe that the club's development doesn't necessarily stop there. I hope to continue contributing to the team, giving my all, and finally bringing it to a perfect close."

As one of the players with the most appearances in the Bundesliga, Ginter was also asked if he intended to challenge the league's all-time appearance record. The Bundesliga all-time appearance record is currently held by Karl-Heinz Kerber, who made 602 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt between 1972 and 1991.

If Ginter wants to equal Kerber's record, he needs to play as a starter for at least another six years. He enthusiastically told Sky Sports Germany, "Of course I hope to play as much as possible. If I can fill in as a goalkeeper for a while, I might be able to play for another year or two. However, playing for another six years is definitely a big challenge."

“As my birthday approaches, I realize that I don’t have much time left. I’m trying to slow down this process and try not to let the signs of aging show on me.”

On the other hand, Ginter believes his chances of returning to the national team are extremely slim. He previously represented Germany in three World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022), one Confederations Cup (2017), and one European Championship (2021), winning the World Cup in 2014 and the Confederations Cup in 2017.

Looking back, Ginter said with emotion: "I had an incredibly wonderful time with the national team. I was fortunate enough to win two championships with the team and also won an Olympic gold medal. These experiences and moments will remain in my heart forever, and I never thought they would actually come true."

"In my opinion, this summer's World Cup is my last chance to be selected for the national team. By the next major tournament, I will be 34 years old. I know age is a factor, in fact, a decisive one. Playing for Germany is the best experience a player can have, especially during a major tournament. However, I am very aware of my situation. After a frank discussion with the national team coach, I fully understand his considerations - for me, everything is fine."

Image source: Internet