Stefan Kießling expects 2017/18 to be his last as a Bayer Leverkusen player. - © © gettyimages / Lars Baron/Bongarts
Stefan Kießling expects 2017/18 to be his last as a Bayer Leverkusen player. - © © gettyimages / Lars Baron/Bongarts

Stefan Kiessling set to see out final year of Leverkusen contract

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Bayer Leverkusen's veteran striker Stefan Kießling says he will see out the final year of his contract, which expires in summer 2018.

The 33-year-old made just six starts last season, but is now looking forward to one last hurrah after encouraging talks with new head coach Heiko Herrlich.

"I've spoken with the new coach and it was a very good chat," Kießling told Germany's kicker magazine. "He's one of those people who doesn't only understand football - he lives it, too. Because of that, I think we'll be be able to support each other. I'll go into my last year and begin my farewell."

Watch: Kießling scored his fourth goal of the 2016/17 season on the final day

Despite being used sparingly by former coach Roger Schmidt in 2016/17, Kießling came into his own under interim boss Tayfun Korkut. He finished with a flourish, scoring three goals in the last four games of the season, and Herrlich believes the former Nuremberg man still has much to give.

"Stefan Kießling is a player who genuinely identifies with the club," said Herrlich. "It shouldn't be a question of what the club can give him, but what he can give the club. I'm sure he'll continue."

Kießling - winner of the 2012/13 Torjägerkanone - has scored 144 goals in 395 Bundesliga appearances to date, as well as a further 18 in the DFB Cup and 15 in European club competition.

The 2017/18 Bundesliga campaign will be his 12th in a Leverkusen shirt.

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