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Evergreen Bremen striker Pizarro turns 40

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AFP Berlin
Last Updated : Oct 02 2018 | 3:35 PM IST

After making his 450th Bundesliga appearance last weekend, Werder Bremen striker Claudio Pizarro turns 40 on Wednesday, yet the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich forward has no plans to hang his boots up just yet.

"I enjoying playing football, even at 40, and I will keep doing it until my body says 'no more'," said Pizarro.

"Maybe this will be my last year, but I will see after this season," he added. Pizarro's one-year contract expires in June.

"All I need is a ball and a match to play in.

"Bremen is a charming city and the fans love me here." No wonder Pizarro is a fans favourite at Bremen.

He is on his fourth stint at the club for whom he has made 276 appearances, netting 144 goals, since making his Bundesliga debut, aged 20, for Bremen in 1999.

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After leaving the Weserstadion for spells at either Bayern Munich, Chelsea or Cologne, he always came back to Bremen and his three children were all born in Germany.

Pizarro proved he still has it by hitting the post in Bremen's 2-1 defeat at Stuttgart last Saturday.

He is in the curious situation of being four years and two days older than Bremen's head coach Florian Kohfeldt, who turns 36 on Friday.

"Claudio is a very important player for us, although perhaps not in every game," said Kohfeldt, who has started Pizarro once, with three substitute appearances, in Bremen's six league games this season.

He holds the Bundesliga record for the most goals by a foreign player, scoring 192 times with a further 75 assists, for Bayern, Bremen and Cologne, where he spent last season.

However, Bayern's Poland striker Robert Lewandowski is closing fast with 183 league goals.

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First Published: Oct 02 2018 | 3:35 PM IST

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