BUNDESLIGA
Age is just a number for Bayern's Franck Ribery
French veteran winger Franck Ribery is still going strong at 35, as demonstrated with his two goals in a 3-0 win at Frankfurt. Perhaps it won't be his last season at Bayern Munich after all.
Another two goals from Franck Ribery in a man-of-the-match performance against Eintracht Frankfurt shows the French winger has still plenty to offer in his farewell year at Bayern Munich.
Or will this season really be his last in Munich?
Ribery, who will be 36 before the end of the season, had in May extended his contract at Bayern for one more year.
He, along with fellow veteran Arjen Robben, are expected to be playing their last seasons at the record German champion, Indeed former Dutch winger Robben has already confirmed his farewell at the end of the current campaign.
Not so Ribery, who in the dressing room after after the 3-0 win at Frankfurt told club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge he would like a new contract extension.
A typical Ribery joke, maybe. But there's many a serious word spoken in jest.
Rummenigge told Sky television it was good that a player like Ribery, who has been at the club for more than 10 years, still enjoyed having a bit of "fun." But from the club side nothing has been prepared - "not yet."
"I've always said that there are no players who are too old, only good players and not so good players. And he is a very good player," Rummenigge said. Therefore we will see what will happen - especially if he keeps playing as he has been recently."
Ribery's two goals followed a late winner midweek against Leipzig as Bayern again underlined they have regained some form after a difficult period.
It was a fifth straight win in all competitions, and Niko Kovac's side are now back up to second going into the winter break, six points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.
Ribery has scored all his four goals of the present campaign in his last three league matches, the first time he has done that since February 2015. He now has 84 goals in 262 Bundesliga games.
"What Franck delivers for the team both on and off the pitch is immense," Kovac said. I am delighted that a world-class players like him doesn't rest on his laurels and always gives everything."
Team-mate Thomas Mueller quipped after Saturday's win that Ribery deserved his two goals "especially as yesterday he just turned 22."
Ribery, who joined Bayern from Marseille in 2007 and has won eight Bundesliga titles and helped Bayern lift the Champions League in 2013, was keeping his future open.
"I love Bayern, and Bayern loves me," he told Sky. "You never know what will happen in life."
