On Wednesday, Ilir Azemi accepted SpVgg Greuther Fürth's offer of a two-year extension. The striker has been out of action for almost an entire year after an horrific car accident.
Since the events of that faithful day on 7th August 2014, Azemi has been fighting through rehabilitation to make a return to the pitch. After suffering damage to his lung and multiple broken bones, it is understandable that he is slowly easing himself back into things.
Fürth missed his clinical nature on the pitch massively last term. Goals were almost impossible to find at certain stages, though the news of his extension hints that he could be available at some point. He notched 14 times in 28 games as the Shamrocks almost bounced back to the Bundesliga at the first time of asking in 2013/14, only to be denied that spot in a play-off defeat to Hamburger SV.
Mutzel and Azemi give their thoughts on the extension
Azemi spoke to th official club website following the announcement, and admitted: "I still dream of returning to professional sport." He recognised that "this is not easy" but said he was "very grateful" to Fürth and "how they supported me [Azemi]". He concluded, "For me, this is an incentive to work even more intensively in the coming weeks and months."
Michael Mutzel, sporting director at the Franconian side, said that they simply "couldn't imagine dropping him [Azemi]". His contract was due to run out this summer, but the club stepped in to offer him a new deal. Mutzel also added, "Ilir has a hard road behind him and an equally difficult one in front."
Azemi will be cheering on his team-mates as they get their 2. Bundesliga campaign underway this weekend. They welcome Karlsruher SC to the Trolli-Arena, hoping to get off to a good start and avoid a repeat performance of last term.