Makoto Hasebe, a Japanese midfielder for Eintracht Frankfurt, revealed that he will try to obtain his coaching license in Germany while playing for his club in the Bundesliga, the Yomiuri Shimbun learned on May 24 in an online interview as the German league season, which was interrupted by the spread of the new coronavirus, resumed.
The 36-year-old former Japan captain said, "It makes me happy when there is something I can feel through soccer."
During the interview, he encouraged the next generation of players, who lost opportunities because of cancellations of events such as the national high school championships in the summer.
"I've just returned from Munich," he said, when the interview started, as the local date had already changed. He was there for the away game against Bayern Munich as a reserve on the bench.
He showed no signs of fatigue from the long trip as he began to talk.
"The resumption of the league was officially decided about 10 days before the first game. Until then, we didn't know when it would resume, or even whether it would resume. It was hard to adjust my physical and mental conditions," Hasebe said.
At that time, his team had dealt two straight defeats since the resumption on May 16. Hasebe analyzed that each club was still not fit and had not yet been able to give a high-quality performance.
"We were always playing in a packed stadium. It feels very lonely without an audience of fans," he said.
Hasebe has signed a contract with Eintracht Frankfurt for next season and will be an ambassador for the club. There are few Japanese players who, even at age 36, can be counted on to play in the major European leagues and take on heavy responsibilities.
His ambassador activities will begin in July, including appearances at events and giving advice to the team, according to his explanation.
He said he had not decided when he would retire, and that he would seek coaching qualifications with the support of his club.
He has played 305 games in the Bundesliga first division, the most games for a Japanese player, and is fluent in German.
"It is standard in Germany for players who have long been with a team to get support to qualify. I've heard that 'skipping grades' is also applied," he said.
It takes "three or four years" to get the top qualification, but first, he must gain coaching experience in a subordinate organization, he said.
Hasebe had previously considered being a coach as one of his postretirement paths. Prior to this pandemic, he applied to the German Football Association for a correspondence course.
He is passionate about teaching children and runs a school in his hometown of Shizuoka. He showed compassion with the young athletes being disappointed at the cancellation of the high school championships.
"I myself was able to become a professional through playing there. It's very heartbreaking to hear that kind of stage has disappeared." he said.
Hasebe sent a message to Japan: "I can imagine that many of you are in a difficult situation. I want you to fight the virus in a unique way as Japanese."
He was recently appointed as a member of the Athlete Committee of the Japan Football Association. "I want to give advice from the perspective of a player who has long played abroad," he said.
The exceptional athlete will extend his contribution to German and Japanese soccer.
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