Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has hinted at retiring at the end of the 2022/23 season.
The 35-year-old signed a year contract extension at the Bundesliga outfit, Hertha Berlin, after helping them narrowly avoid relegation last season via the play-offs.
However, the veteran midfielder insists there will be no motivation that will keep him playing beyond the upcoming season.
“I’m still in the mood to play. I want to bet a little more on myself, and I think you can also see it in training. I don’t want to say whether I will have room in the Bundesliga or not,” he said after signing his new contract.
“I just want to try and get it back. The last year has been turbulent: too much action, too many bad stocks, and too many bad results. I couldn’t stop like that. But this is definitely my last season as a professional footballer. That’s why I want to have fun every day, no matter what.
“I will retire even if we play the Champions League next year: this is my last season. I will give everything for the club and also for myself. But then it will be over.”
As for his plans at the end of the season, Boateng says nothing has been decided – although he won’t be going into coaching for the time being.
“My agent says I’d be a perfect coach, but I don’t see myself doing that yet,” he said. “I don’t have any patience and never have. I still need to develop in that regard. I’m just trying to focus on this season. I’ll have enough time afterwards to think things over.”
In the summer of 2021, Boateng returned to boyhood club Hertha Berlin where he enjoyed two top-flight campaigns before embarking on a career that took him to Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Dortmund, Portsmouth, AC Milan, Schalke, Barcelona, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fiorentina, Besiktas and AC Monza.
Born in Germany, Boateng represented his native country internationally at the youth level but switched his allegiance to Ghana in May 201o.
He made 15 appearances for the Black Stars between 2010 and 2014, scoring two goals and was part of the team that represented the nation at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.