Kidney recipient Klasnic's soccer hope
Former Croatia forward Ivan Klasnic may return to soccer once again now that he is healthy after a third kidney transplant.
"I got another offer as a player after the last kidney transplant, maybe that is an option for me one more time," Klasnic told Wednesday's edition of the Weser Kurier paper.
"I have until summer to get in shape."
Klasnic, 37, received the latest kidney in Croatia in October.
His first transplant, with a kidney donated by his mother, failed in 2007 after his body rejected it.
The second attempt two months later, with Klasnic's father the donor, was successful but the kidney started to fail in 2016.
Klasnic was the first soccer player with a transplanted kidney to take part in a major tournament, at EURO 2008.
The former Werder Bremen, Nantes and Bolton Wanderers player last featured for German side Mainz in 2012/13, but is yet to officially end his career.
"I haven't had a farewell match yet," he said.
"I would like to do it at the Weserstadium [in Bremen]. There is no date but we are talking about it.
"But now I have a new kidney.
"A transplant is like an engine change. I now have a new one.
"I played again after the first transplant so why shouldn't it work out again," Klasnic who aims to continue in soccer with a management position, said.
