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David Abraham Swapped Shirts With A Referee After His Final Bundesliga Game

David Abraham Swapped Shirts With A Referee After His Final Bundesliga Game

Match official Manuel Grafe won't have expected this.

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

Eintracht Frankfurt defender David Abraham brought his Bundesliga career to an end this weekend - marking the occasion by swapping shirts with a referee.

The 34-year-old has spent eight years in Germany but is returning to his native Argentina to be with his family.

Following a 3-1 win over Schalke on Sunday evening, Abraham decided to skip out on swapping shirts with a player and chose referee Manuel Grafe instead.

Abraham and Grafe, along with other match officials, even posed in the tunnel at the end of the game.



While Abraham will still turn out for hometown club Huracan Chabas, his Frankfurt departure does mark the end of an era.

One of German football's most consistent defenders, Abraham became a key player in the division.

He recalled to Kicker magazine per Bundesliga.com: "In January 2013, I played my first game in Germany for Hoffenheim, in Frankfurt.

"I can remember looking at the fans and the backdrop from the bench - it was unbelievable, incredible. The fans created a real atmosphere and got behind their team for the whole game.

Image
PA

"That's when I thought: 'Man, it'd be great to play for Eintracht one day'. Two-and-a-half years later, the offer came in."

He continued: "I left my hometown when I was a teenager.

"I've been a father for four and a half years and I've seen my son very little, especially since the pandemic started.

"Nothing can replace this time of watching your son grow up."

The game was also significant as it marked Luka Jovic's first game back at Frankfurt.

Jovic left the club for Real Madrid in 2019 but has failed to establish himself in Zinedine Zidane's side.

He re-joined 'Die Adler' earlier this week and made the perfect start to his second stint, scoring twice off the bench.

Featured Image Credit: BT Sport

Topics: Football News, Eintracht Frankfurt, Football, Bundesliga