Garefrekes to quit after 12th Frankfurt season

Former Germany winger Kerstin Garefrekes is to retire at the end of next term after signing a new deal for her 12th season with 1. FFC Frankfurt.

The 35-year-old has agreed to stay for the 2015/16 campaign at the club she joined in 2004 from FFC Heike Rheine and where Garefrekes has claimed two UEFA Women's Cups, three Frauen Bundesliga titles and three German Cups. In a ten-year international career she earned 130 caps and scored 43 goals, winning two FIFA Women's World Cups and two UEFA Women's EUROs, as well as a pair of Olympic bronze medals.

"After thorough consideration I have made the decision to end my career and start a new chapter in my life [after the end of the new contract]," Garefrekes said. "Knowing that the future has been decided now, I can fully focus on the challenges ahead. In all three competitions we want to challenge for silverware and it would be a dream to celebrate the odd trophy in my final seasons for FFC."

Coach Colin Bell, whose three-time European champions play Bristol Academy WFC in the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finals on 21 and 29 March, added: "Kerstin is an experienced team leader who does outstanding work as captain, and I am very glad to continue to have her in our team. With her vision, pace, nose for goal and experience, she is one of our key performers. Off the pitch I value her as a trustworthy sounding board, who often provides important feedback with her constructive opinions."