Hertha BSC have today announced that club captain, Fabian Lustenberger, has extended his current contract at the Olympiastadion; that will keep the Swiss international with the capital club until 2019 at the earliest.
An integral part of die Alte Dame
After being somewhat sidelined over recent years, Lustenberger has come back to the fore in die Alte Dame's currently hugely successful season. Under boss and former teammate, Pál Dárdai, the Swiss has been regularly deployed by the Hungarian in the heart of midfield; putting in some stellar performances and forming a great partnership with Per Ciljan Skjelbred, as Hertha look to do the unthinkable and qualify for European competition - currently sitting in third position.
Lustenberger has appeared in twenty four of the capital clubs twenty five domestic Bundesliga game, and has scored on one occasion during the 2-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart in September.
The industrious die Alte Dame club captain began his career in his native country with FC Luzern and after some impressive displays earned a €1.5 million to the Olympiastadion in 2007. Since then, Lustenberger has gone on to represent Hertha BSC on 219 competitive occasions and in 2013 he was graced with the clubs captaincy after representing the side in both the Bundesliga and after relegation, the 2. Bundesliga. He has spent some time between the sticks, playing eight minutes in goal after Marco Sejna was sent off in the 2010/11 season.
Delighted to stay
Evidently delighted with his extension, Lustenberger told the Hertha BSC club website just how easy it was to extend, as he said, "I feel great at Hertha and I'm very glad that I'm able to stay here until 2019 at least."
He had his say on die Alte Dame's surprising quest for European football and the aims for the rest of the season. "Sporting wise, we are in a great situation; We will do our upmost to develop even further and to achieve our maximum sporting success!" the international said.
As well as loving life on the pitch, the midfielder also loves life off it in the metropolitan capital of Germany. "Berlin has become my second home, my family and I feel great here. I met my wife here and both my children were born here, it's great to have some security in this situation," Lustenberger detailed.
Finally, the midfielder who can also play in defence expressed his gratitude for the opportunities Hertha BSC has provided. Lustenberger told club officials, "The club, Hertha BSC, has given me an awful lot and for that I am extremely grateful!"